Why does the noun Rat 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 Rat
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Rat | ein Rat | kein Rat |
| Akkusativ | den Rat | einen Rat | keinen Rat |
| Dativ | dem Rat | einem Rat | keinem Rat |
| Genitiv | des Rates | eines Rates | keines Rates |
| Nominativ | die Räte | Räte | keine Räte |
| Akkusativ | die Räte | Räte | keine Räte |
| Dativ | den Räten | Räten | keinen Räten |
| Genitiv | der Räte | Räte | keiner Räte |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Rat in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der gute Rat ist wichtig.The good advice is important. | Ein wichtiger Rat kommt spät.Important advice comes late. | Kein schlechter Rat hilft mir.No bad advice helps me. |
| Akkusativ | Ich brauche den guten Rat.I need the good advice. | Sie gibt einen wichtigen Rat.She gives important advice. | Er hört keinen schlechten Rat.He doesn't listen to bad advice. |
| Dativ | Ich folge dem guten Rat.I follow the good advice. | Er vertraut einem wichtigen Rat.He trusts important advice. | Sie glaubt keinem schlechten Rat.She doesn't believe any bad advice. |
| Genitiv | Der Wert des guten Rates ist hoch.The value of the good advice is high. | Die Wirkung eines wichtigen Rates ist groß.The effect of important advice is great. | Die Kraft keines schlechten Rates wirkt.The power of no bad advice works. |
| Nominativ | Die neuen Räte sind hier.The new councillors are here. | Kluge Räte treffen sich oft.Clever councillors meet often. | Keine alten Räte arbeiten mehr.No old councillors work anymore. |
| Akkusativ | Wir wählen die neuen Räte.We elect the new councillors. | Ich kenne kluge Räte.I know clever councillors. | Sie sieht keine alten Räte.She doesn't see any old councillors. |
| Dativ | Er spricht mit den neuen Räten.He talks to the new councillors. | Wir helfen klugen Räten gern.We gladly help clever councillors. | Ich gebe keinen alten Räten Geld.I don't give money to any old councillors. |
| Genitiv | Die Meinung der neuen Räte zählt.The opinion of the new councillors counts. | Das Wort kluger Räte ist Gesetz.The word of clever councillors is law. | Die Geschichte keiner alten Räte ist bekannt.The history of no old councillors 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 Rat?
It is der Rat. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Rat 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 Rat?
The German noun Rat is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Rat?
The plural form of der Rat is die Räte. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Rat mean in English?
The German word der Rat translates to “advice” in English.
How do you decline der Rat?
Like all German nouns, Rat changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Rat
- Akkusativ: den Rat
- Dativ: dem Rat
- Genitiv: des Rates
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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