Why does the noun Nein have the article das?

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 Nein

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Neinein Neinkein Nein
Akkusativdas Neinein Neinkein Nein
Dativdem Neineinem Neinkeinem Nein
Genitivdes Neinseines Neinskeines Neins

Examples in context

Real sentences using Nein in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das klare Nein ist wichtig.The clear no is important.
Ein klares Nein hilft oft.A clear no often helps.
Kein klares Nein ist gut.No clear no is good.
Akkusativ
Ich höre das klare Nein.I hear the clear no.
Er sagt ein klares Nein.He says a clear no.
Sie akzeptiert kein klares Nein.She accepts no clear no.
Dativ
Ich stimme dem klaren Nein zu.I agree with the clear no.
Er folgt einem klaren Nein.He follows a clear no.
Sie widerspricht keinem klaren Nein.She contradicts no clear no.
Genitiv
Die Macht des klaren Neins ist groß.The power of the clear no is great.
Die Wirkung eines eines klaren Neins ist stark.The effect of a clear no is strong.
Die Folge keines keines klaren Neins ist schlecht.The consequence of no clear no is bad.

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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 Nein?

It is das Nein. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Nein 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 Nein?

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

What does das Nein mean in English?

The German word das Nein translates to “no” in English.

How do you decline das Nein?

Like all German nouns, Nein changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: das Nein
  • Akkusativ: das Nein
  • Dativ: dem Nein
  • Genitiv: des Neins

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.