Why does the noun Nerv 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 Nerv
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Nerv | ein Nerv | kein Nerv |
| Akkusativ | den Nerv | einen Nerv | keinen Nerv |
| Dativ | dem Nerven | einem Nerven | keinem Nerven |
| Genitiv | des Nerven | eines Nerven | keines Nerven |
| Nominativ | die Nerven | Nerven | keine Nerven |
| Akkusativ | die Nerven | Nerven | keine Nerven |
| Dativ | den Nerven | Nerven | keinen Nerven |
| Genitiv | der Nerven | Nerven | keiner Nerven |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Nerv in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der lange Nerv ist wichtig.The long nerve is important. | Ein dünner Nerv tut weh.A thin nerve hurts. | Kein kranker Nerv funktioniert.No sick nerve functions. |
| Akkusativ | Ich spüre den langen Nerv.I feel the long nerve. | Er hat einen dünnen Nerv.He has a thin nerve. | Sie sieht keinen kranken Nerv.She doesn't see any sick nerve. |
| Dativ | Er hilft dem kranken Nerven.He helps the sick nerve. | Sie gibt einem dünnen Nerven Ruhe.She gives a thin nerve rest. | Er gibt keinem kranken Nerven eine Chance.He doesn't give any sick nerve a chance. |
| Genitiv | Die Funktion des langen Nerven ist wichtig.The function of the long nerve is important. | Die Lage eines eines dünnen Nerven ist kritisch.The position of a thin nerve is critical. | Der Zustand keines keines kranken Nerven ist gut.The condition of no sick nerve is good. |
| Nominativ | Die langen Nerven sind wichtig.The long nerves are important. | Dünne Nerven sind empfindlich.Thin nerves are sensitive. | Keine kranken Nerven funktionieren.No sick nerves function. |
| Akkusativ | Wir spüren die langen Nerven.We feel the long nerves. | Ärzte untersuchen kranke Nerven.Doctors examine sick nerves. | Ich sehe keine dünnen Nerven.I don't see any thin nerves. |
| Dativ | Er hilft den kranken Nerven.He helps the sick nerves. | Sie gibt dünnen Nerven Ruhe.She gives thin nerves rest. | Ich glaube keinen kranken Nerven.I don't believe any sick nerves. |
| Genitiv | Die Funktion der langen Nerven ist wichtig.The function of the long nerves is important. | Die Lage dünner Nerven ist kritisch.The position of thin nerves is critical. | Der Zustand keiner kranken Nerven ist gut.The condition of no sick nerves is good. |
GET THE APP
Practice der Nerv in the app
Master der Nerv (and 5,000+ other German nouns) with quizzes, smart review, and instant grammar tips.
- 5,000+ nouns with translations in 11 languages
- Quizzes by level, category, or your weakest words
- Snap a photo of any German text — extract nouns instantly
Frequently asked questions
Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.
Is it der, die, or das Nerv?
It is der Nerv. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Nerv 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 Nerv?
The German noun Nerv is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Nerv?
The plural form of der Nerv is die Nerven. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Nerv mean in English?
The German word der Nerv translates to “nerve” in English.
How do you decline der Nerv?
Like all German nouns, Nerv changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Nerv
- Akkusativ: den Nerv
- Dativ: dem Nerven
- Genitiv: des Nerven
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.
Browse by level
A1 Beginner — most common everyday nouns
Explore →
Browse by topic
Body Parts
Explore →
BROWSE BY GENDER
Masculine nouns
Explore →
Browse by declension
Strong Standard declension — no extra -(e)n. The 96% majority.
Explore →