Why does the noun Rucksack 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 Rucksack

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Rucksackein Rucksackkein Rucksack
Akkusativden Rucksackeinen Rucksackkeinen Rucksack
Dativdem Rucksackeinem Rucksackkeinem Rucksack
Genitivdes Rucksackseines Rucksackskeines Rucksacks

Examples in context

Real sentences using Rucksack in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der Rucksack ist schwer.The backpack is heavy.
Ein neuer Rucksack ist praktisch.A new backpack is practical.
Kein Rucksack ist leer.No backpack is empty.
Akkusativ
Ich packe den Rucksack.I pack the backpack.
Er kauft einen großen Rucksack.He buys a large backpack.
Ich brauche keinen Rucksack.I don't need any backpack.
Dativ
Ich gebe dem Rucksack mehr Gewicht.I give the backpack more weight.
Er gibt einem neuen Rucksack mehr Gewicht.He gives a new backpack more weight.
Ich gebe keinem Rucksack mehr Gewicht.I give no backpack more weight.
Genitiv
Der Inhalt des Rucksacks ist wichtig.The content of the backpack is important.
Die Farbe eines neuen Rucksacks ist schön.The color of a new backpack is beautiful.
Wegen keines Rucksacks gibt es Probleme.Because of no backpack, there are problems.

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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 Rucksack?

It is der Rucksack. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Rucksack 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 Rucksack?

The plural form of der Rucksack is die Rucksäcke. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Rucksack mean in English?

The German word der Rucksack translates to “rucksack, backpack” in English.

How do you decline der Rucksack?

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

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.