Why does the noun Parmesan 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 Parmesan

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Parmesanein Parmesankein Parmesan
Akkusativden Parmesaneinen Parmesankeinen Parmesan
Dativdem Parmesaneinem Parmesankeinem Parmesan
Genitivdes Parmesanseines Parmesanskeines Parmesans

Examples in context

Real sentences using Parmesan in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der frische Parmesan ist sehr gut.The fresh Parmesan is very good.
Ein neuer Parmesan liegt hier.A new Parmesan is here.
Kein guter Parmesan ist übrig.No good Parmesan is left.
Akkusativ
Ich kaufe den neuen Parmesan.I buy the new Parmesan.
Er möchte einen milden Parmesan probieren.He wants to try a mild Parmesan.
Wir haben keinen guten Parmesan mehr.We don't have any good Parmesan left.
Dativ
Ich bin mit dem alten Parmesan zufrieden.I am satisfied with the old Parmesan.
Ich esse Brot mit einem guten Parmesan.I eat bread with a good Parmesan.
Ich spreche mit keinem neuen Parmesan.I don't talk about any new Parmesan.
Genitiv
Der Preis des guten Parmesans ist hoch.The price of the good Parmesan is high.
Der Geschmack eines neuen Parmesans ist mild.The taste of a new Parmesan is mild.
Ich mag den Geruch keines schlechten Parmesans.I don't like the smell of any bad Parmesan.

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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 Parmesan?

It is der Parmesan. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Parmesan is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of der Parmesan?

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

What does der Parmesan mean in English?

The German word der Parmesan translates to “parmesan” in English.

How do you decline der Parmesan?

Like all German nouns, Parmesan changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Parmesan
  • Akkusativ: den Parmesan
  • Dativ: dem Parmesan
  • Genitiv: des Parmesans

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.