Why does the noun Mittag have the article der?

Most times of day are masculine.

Examples

der Morgen (morning), der Vormittag (late morning), der Mittag (noon), der Nachmittag (afternoon), der Abend (evening)

Exceptions

die Nacht (night), die Mitternacht (midnight)

Declension table for German noun Mittag

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Mittagein Mittagkein Mittag
Akkusativden Mittageinen Mittagkeinen Mittag
Dativdem Mittageinem Mittagkeinem Mittag
Genitivdes Mittagseines Mittagskeines Mittags

Examples in context

Real sentences using Mittag in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der neue Mittag ist schön.The new midday is beautiful.
Ein neuer Mittag beginnt jetzt.A new midday begins now.
Kein neuer Mittag ist frei.No new midday is free.
Akkusativ
Wir genießen den neuen Mittag.We enjoy the new midday.
Ich wünsche einen neuen Mittag.I wish a new midday.
Er hat keinen neuen Mittag.He has no new midday.
Dativ
Ich bin nach dem neuen Mittag müde.I am tired after the new midday.
Er kommt zu einem neuen Mittag.He comes to a new midday.
Sie ist vor keinem neuen Mittag hier.She is not here before any new midday.
Genitiv
Die Pause des neuen Mittags ist kurz.The break of the new midday is short.
Das Ende eines eines neuen Mittags naht.The end of a new midday approaches.
Der Beginn keines keines neuen Mittags ist klar.The beginning of no new midday is clear.

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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 Mittag?

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

What CEFR level is the word Mittag?

The German noun Mittag is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of der Mittag?

The plural form of der Mittag is die Mittage. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Mittag mean in English?

The German word der Mittag translates to “noon, midday” in English.

How do you decline der Mittag?

Like all German nouns, Mittag changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Mittag
  • Akkusativ: den Mittag
  • Dativ: dem Mittag
  • Genitiv: des Mittags

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.