Why does the noun Ruhestand 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 Ruhestand

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Ruhestandein Ruhestandkein Ruhestand
Akkusativden Ruhestandeinen Ruhestandkeinen Ruhestand
Dativdem Ruhestandeinem Ruhestandkeinem Ruhestand
Genitivdes Ruhestandeseines Ruhestandeskeines Ruhestandes

Examples in context

Real sentences using Ruhestand in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der lange Ruhestand ist schön.The long retirement is beautiful.
Ein schöner Ruhestand beginnt.A beautiful retirement begins.
Kein langer Ruhestand ist sicher.No long retirement is certain.
Akkusativ
Ich genieße den langen Ruhestand.I enjoy the long retirement.
Er plant einen schönen Ruhestand.He plans a beautiful retirement.
Sie hat keinen ruhigen Ruhestand.She has no quiet retirement.
Dativ
Ich bin in dem langen Ruhestand.I am in the long retirement.
Er ist in einem schönen Ruhestand.He is in a beautiful retirement.
Ich bin in keinem ruhigen Ruhestand.I am not in any quiet retirement.
Genitiv
Die Zeit des langen Ruhestandes ist vorbei.The time of the long retirement is over.
Die Freude eines schönen Ruhestandes ist groß.The joy of a beautiful retirement is great.
Die Sorge keines ruhigen Ruhestandes ist da.The worry of no quiet retirement is present.

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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 Ruhestand?

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

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

What does der Ruhestand mean in English?

The German word der Ruhestand translates to “retirement” in English.

How do you decline der Ruhestand?

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

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.