Why does the noun Pflanzen have the article die?

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 Pflanzen

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Pflanzeeine Pflanzekeine Pflanze
Akkusativdie Pflanzeeine Pflanzekeine Pflanze
Dativder Pflanzeeiner Pflanzekeiner Pflanze
Genitivder Pflanzeeiner Pflanzekeiner Pflanze

Examples in context

Real sentences using Pflanzen in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die grüne Pflanze wächst schnell.The green plant grows fast.
Eine kleine Pflanze steht hier.A small plant stands here.
Keine große Pflanze ist giftig.No big plant is poisonous.
Akkusativ
Ich gieße die kleine Pflanze.I water the small plant.
Wir kaufen eine neue Pflanze.We buy a new plant.
Er hat keine große Pflanze.He has no big plant.
Dativ
Ich gebe der kleinen Pflanze Wasser.I give the small plant water.
Er hilft einer jungen Pflanze.He helps a young plant.
Sie spricht von keiner großen Pflanze.She speaks of no big plant.
Genitiv
Die Blätter der kleinen Pflanze sind grün.The leaves of the small plant are green.
Der Duft einer schönen Pflanze ist süß.The scent of a beautiful plant is sweet.
Die Wurzel keiner großen Pflanze ist stark.The root of no big plant is strong.

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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 Pflanzen?

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

What is the plural of die Pflanzen?

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

What does die Pflanzen mean in English?

The German word die Pflanzen translates to “plant” in English.

How do you decline die Pflanzen?

Like all German nouns, Pflanzen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Pflanze
  • Akkusativ: die Pflanze
  • Dativ: der Pflanze
  • Genitiv: der Pflanze

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.