Why does the noun Papa 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 Papa
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Papa | ein Papa | kein Papa |
| Akkusativ | den Papa | einen Papa | keinen Papa |
| Dativ | dem Papa | einem Papa | keinem Papa |
| Genitiv | des Papas | eines Papas | keines Papas |
| Nominativ | die Papas | Papas | keine Papas |
| Akkusativ | die Papas | Papas | keine Papas |
| Dativ | den Papas | Papas | keinen Papas |
| Genitiv | der Papas | Papas | keiner Papas |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Papa in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der alte Papa ist müde.The old dad is tired. | Ein neuer Papa kommt bald.A new dad is coming soon. | Kein lieber Papa ist zu Hause.No dear dad is at home. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den alten Papa.I see the old dad. | Sie sucht einen neuen Papa.She is looking for a new dad. | Wir finden keinen lieben Papa.We find no dear dad. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe dem alten Papa.I help the old dad. | Sie spricht mit einem neuen Papa.She talks with a new dad. | Ich helfe keinem lieben Papa.I don't help any dear dad. |
| Genitiv | Das Auto des alten Papas ist neu.The car of the old dad is new. | Die Stimme eines neuen Papas ist laut.The voice of a new dad is loud. | Die Freude keines lieben Papas ist groß.The joy of no dear dad is great. |
| Nominativ | Die guten Papas sind nett.The good dads are nice. | Viele Papas spielen gern.Many dads like to play. | Keine bösen Papas sind hier.No angry dads are here. |
| Akkusativ | Er grüßt die guten Papas.He greets the good dads. | Ich treffe neue Papas oft.I often meet new dads. | Ich sehe keine bösen Papas.I see no angry dads. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe den guten Papas.I help the good dads. | Sie spricht mit vielen Papas.She talks with many dads. | Ich helfe keinen bösen Papas.I don't help any angry dads. |
| Genitiv | Die Autos der guten Papas sind alt.The cars of the good dads are old. | Die Häuser vieler Papas sind groß.The houses of many dads are big. | Die Arbeit keiner bösen Papas ist leicht.The work of no angry dads is easy. |
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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 Papa?
It is der Papa. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Papa 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 Papa?
The German noun Papa is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Papa?
The plural form of der Papa is die Papas. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Papa mean in English?
The German word der Papa translates to “daddy” in English.
How do you decline der Papa?
Like all German nouns, Papa changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Papa
- Akkusativ: den Papa
- Dativ: dem Papa
- Genitiv: des Papas
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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