Why does the noun Muskel have the article der?
This noun follows no general suffix rule — its gender is part of the core vocabulary you simply learn alongside the word.
Declension table for German noun Muskel
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Muskel | ein Muskel | kein Muskel |
| Akkusativ | den Muskel | einen Muskel | keinen Muskel |
| Dativ | dem Muskel | einem Muskel | keinem Muskel |
| Genitiv | des Muskels | eines Muskels | keines Muskels |
| Nominativ | die Muskeln | Muskeln | keine Muskeln |
| Akkusativ | die Muskeln | Muskeln | keine Muskeln |
| Dativ | den Muskeln | Muskeln | keinen Muskeln |
| Genitiv | der Muskeln | Muskeln | keiner Muskeln |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Muskel in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der große Muskel ist stark.The big muscle is strong. | Ein kleiner Muskel tut weh.A small muscle hurts. | Kein neuer Muskel ist sichtbar.No new muscle is visible. |
| Akkusativ | Ich trainiere den großen Muskel.I am training the big muscle. | Er spürt einen neuen Muskel.He feels a new muscle. | Sie hat keinen starken Muskel nicht.She doesn't have a strong muscle. |
| Dativ | Er arbeitet an dem bestimmten Muskel.He is working on the specific muscle. | Ich spüre Schmerz in einem alten Muskel.I feel pain in an old muscle. | Sie hat Probleme mit keinem neuen Muskel.She has no problems with any new muscle. |
| Genitiv | Die Funktion des starken Muskels ist klar.The function of the strong muscle is clear. | Die Stärke eines einzelnen Muskels ist enorm.The strength of a single muscle is enormous. | Die Entwicklung keines starken Muskels ist schlecht.The development of no strong muscle is bad. |
| Nominativ | Die allen Muskeln sind wichtig.All muscles are important. | Starke Muskeln wachsen schnell.Strong muscles grow fast. | Keine schwachen Muskeln sind trainiert.No weak muscles are trained. |
| Akkusativ | Wir stärken die schwachen Muskeln.We are strengthening the weak muscles. | Er sieht viele Muskeln.He sees many muscles. | Ich habe keine starken Muskeln trainiert.I have not trained any strong muscles. |
| Dativ | Er hilft den schwachen Muskeln.He helps the weak muscles. | Wir arbeiten an verschiedenen Muskeln.We are working on different muscles. | Sie kümmert sich um keinen starken Muskeln.She cares for no strong muscles. |
| Genitiv | Die Gesundheit der allen Muskeln ist wichtig.The health of all muscles is important. | Die Pflege schwacher Muskeln ist nötig.The care of weak muscles is necessary. | Die Funktion keiner neuen Muskeln ist unklar.The function of no new muscles is unclear. |
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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 Muskel?
It is der Muskel. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Muskel 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 Muskel?
The German noun Muskel is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Muskel?
The plural form of der Muskel is die Muskeln. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Muskel mean in English?
The German word der Muskel translates to “muscle” in English.
How do you decline der Muskel?
Like all German nouns, Muskel changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Muskel
- Akkusativ: den Muskel
- Dativ: dem Muskel
- Genitiv: des Muskels
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.
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