Singular

das

Minimum

Q: Is it der, die, or das Minimum?

It is das Minimum. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Minimum is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

Q: What is the plural of das Minimum?

The plural form of das Minimum is die Minima. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

Q: What does das Minimum mean in English?

The German word das Minimum translates to “minimum” in English.

Q: How do you decline das Minimum?

Like all German nouns, Minimum changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are: Nominativ: das Minimum Akkusativ: das Minimum Dativ: dem Minimum Genitiv: des Minimums These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.

minimum

Plural: die Minima

Strong

Why does the noun Minimum have the article das?

Nouns ending in -um (Latin origin) are neuter. Look at the bolded -um in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

das Museum (museum), das Zentrum (center), das Datum (date), das Album (album), das Stadium (stadium), das Aquarium (aquarium), das Publikum (audience)

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Declension table for German noun Minimum

How it changes across the four cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	das Minimum	ein Minimum	kein Minimum
Akkusativ	das Minimum	ein Minimum	kein Minimum
Dativ	dem Minimum	einem Minimum	keinem Minimum
Genitiv	des Minimums	eines Minimums	keines Minimums
Nominativ	die Minima	Minima	keine Minima
Akkusativ	die Minima	Minima	keine Minima
Dativ	den Minima	Minima	keinen Minima
Genitiv	der Minima	Minima	keiner Minima

Examples in context

Real sentences using Minimum in different cases.

Case	Definite	Indefinite	Negative
Nominativ	Das neue Minimum ist erreicht.The new minimum is reached.	Ein kleines Minimum ist wichtig.A small minimum is important.	Kein hoches Minimum ist nötig.No high minimum is necessary.
Akkusativ	Wir suchen das kleinste Minimum.We are looking for the smallest minimum.	Ich brauche ein klares Minimum.I need a clear minimum.	Er findet kein echtes Minimum.He finds no real minimum.
Dativ	Ich folge dem neuen Minimum.I follow the new minimum.	Er hilft einem kleinen Minimum.He helps a small minimum.	Sie gibt keinem hochen Minimum nach.She doesn't yield to any high minimum.
Genitiv	Der Wert des neuen Minimums ist klar.The value of the new minimum is clear.	Die Bedeutung eines kleinen Minimums ist groß.The meaning of a small minimum is great.	Wegen keines hochen Minimums gehen wir.We are leaving because of no high minimum.
Nominativ	Die neuen Minima sind wichtig.The new minima are important.	Kleine Minima sind oft gut.Small minima are often good.	Keine hochen Minima sind hier.No high minima are here.
Akkusativ	Sie sehen die wichtigen Minima.They see the important minima.	Wir finden kleine Minima überall.We find small minima everywhere.	Ich sehe keine neuen Minima.I see no new minima.
Dativ	Er arbeitet mit den alten Minima.He works with the old minima.	Wir sprechen über kleinen Minima.We talk about small minima.	Sie hilft keinen neuen Minima.She doesn't help any new minima.
Genitiv	Die Analyse der alten Minima ist wichtig.The analysis of the old minima is important.	Die Ursache kleiner Minima ist unbekannt.The cause of small minima is unknown.	Trotz keiner neuen Minima arbeiten wir.Despite no new minima, we work.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Minimum?

It is das Minimum. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Minimum is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of das Minimum?

The plural form of das Minimum is die Minima. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does das Minimum mean in English?

The German word das Minimum translates to “minimum” in English.

How do you decline das Minimum?

Like all German nouns, Minimum changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:

Nominativ: das Minimum
Akkusativ: das Minimum
Dativ: dem Minimum
Genitiv: des Minimums

These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.