Why does the noun Sand have the article der?

Most rocks and minerals are masculine.

Examples

der Granit (granite), der Diamant (diamond), der Quarz (quartz), der Marmor (marble), der Basalt (basalt), der Ton (clay), der Lehm (loam), der Sand (sand), der Kies (gravel)

Exceptions

die Kohle (coal), die Kreide (chalk), dasIte endings

Declension table for German noun Sand

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Sandein Sandkein Sand
Akkusativden Sandeinen Sandkeinen Sand
Dativdem Sandeinem Sandkeinem Sand
Genitivdes Sandeines Sandkeines Sand

Examples in context

Real sentences using Sand in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der neue Sand ist sehr weich.The new sand is very soft.
Ein neuer Sand hilft immer.A new sand always helps.
Kein neuer Sand liegt hier.No new sand lies here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den neuen Sand.I see the new sand.
Er hat einen neuen Sand.He has a new sand.
Wir brauchen keinen neuen Sand.We don't need any new sand.
Dativ
Ich helfe dem neuen Sand.I help the new sand.
Er spricht mit einem neuen Sand.He speaks with a new sand.
Ich gebe keinem neuen Sand kein Geld.I give no money to any new sand.
Genitiv
Der Preis des neuen Sandes ist hoch.The price of the new sand is high.
Die Farbe eines neuen Sandes ist schön.The color of a new sand is beautiful.
Der Wert keines neuen Sandes ist gering.The value of no new sand is low.

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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 Sand?

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

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

What does der Sand mean in English?

The German word der Sand translates to “sand” in English.

How do you decline der Sand?

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

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.