Why does the noun Niesen have the article das?

Nominalized infinitives (verbs used as nouns) are always neuter.

Examples

das Essen (eating/food), das Trinken (drinking), das Lesen (reading), das Schreiben (writing), das Leben (life), das Schwimmen (swimming)

Exceptions

No exceptions when truly nominalized

Declension table for German noun Niesen

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Niesenein Niesenkein Niesen
Akkusativdas Niesenein Niesenkein Niesen
Dativdem Nieseneinem Niesenkeinem Niesen
Genitivdes Niesenseines Niesenskeines Niesens

Examples in context

Real sentences using Niesen in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das laute Niesen war hörbar.The loud sneezing was audible.
Ein starkes Niesen kam unerwartet.A strong sneeze came unexpectedly.
Kein leichtes Niesen stört ihn.No slight sneezing disturbs him.
Akkusativ
Ich höre das leise Niesen.I hear the quiet sneezing.
Sie bemerkt ein kurzes Niesen.She notices a short sneeze.
Er mag kein lautes Niesen.He doesn't like loud sneezing.
Dativ
Nach dem starken Niesen fühlte er sich besser.After the strong sneeze, he felt better.
Mit einem leisen Niesen begann es.With a quiet sneeze, it began.
Er hilft keinem plötzlichen Niesen.He doesn't help any sudden sneezing.
Genitiv
Die Ursache des ständigen Niesens ist unklar.The cause of the constant sneezing is unclear.
Der Grund eines leisen Niesens war Staub.The reason for a quiet sneeze was dust.
Die Wirkung keines starken Niesens ist bekannt.The effect of no strong sneeze is known.

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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 Niesen?

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

The noun Niesen is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.

What does das Niesen mean in English?

The German word das Niesen translates to “sneezing” in English.

How do you decline das Niesen?

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

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.