Why does the noun Schaf have the article das?
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 Schaf
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Schaf | ein Schaf | kein Schaf |
| Akkusativ | das Schaf | ein Schaf | kein Schaf |
| Dativ | dem Schaf | einem Schaf | keinem Schaf |
| Genitiv | des Schafes | eines Schafes | keines Schafes |
| Nominativ | die Schafe | Schafe | keine Schafe |
| Akkusativ | die Schafe | Schafe | keine Schafe |
| Dativ | den Schafe | Schafe | keinen Schafe |
| Genitiv | der Schafe | Schafe | keiner Schafe |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Schaf in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das weiße Schaf frisst Gras.The white sheep eats grass. | Ein kleines Schaf schläft hier.A small sheep sleeps here. | Kein Schaf ist auf dem Feld.No sheep is in the field. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe das große Schaf.I see the big sheep. | Er hat ein braunes Schaf.He has a brown sheep. | Wir haben kein Schaf mehr.We have no sheep left. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe dem kranken Schaf Wasser.I give water to the sick sheep. | Er hilft einem jungen Schaf.He helps a young sheep. | Ich spreche mit keinem Schaf.I don't speak with any sheep. |
| Genitiv | Die Wolle des kleinen Schafes ist weich.The wool of the small sheep is soft. | Das Fell eines weißen Schafes ist warm.The fur of a white sheep is warm. | Der Wert keines Schafes ist bekannt.The value of no sheep is known. |
| Nominativ | Die jungen Schafe laufen schnell.The young sheep run fast. | Viele Schafe grasen dort.Many sheep graze there. | Keine Schafe sind im Stall.No sheep are in the stable. |
| Akkusativ | Sie füttert die kleinen Schafe.She feeds the small sheep. | Ich zähle viele Schafe.I count many sheep. | Wir sehen keine Schafe.We see no sheep. |
| Dativ | Er gibt den hungrigen Schafe Futter.He gives food to the hungry sheep. | Ich spiele mit vielen Schafe.I play with many sheep. | Sie spricht mit keinen Schafe.She doesn't speak with any sheep. |
| Genitiv | Die Herde der jungen Schafe ist groß.The herd of the young sheep is large. | Die Farbe vieler Schafe ist weiß.The color of many sheep is white. | Der Ruf keiner Schafe ist schlecht.The reputation of no sheep is bad. |
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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 Schaf?
It is das Schaf. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schaf is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Schaf?
The German noun Schaf is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Schaf?
The plural form of das Schaf is die Schafe. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Schaf mean in English?
The German word das Schaf translates to “sheep” in English.
How do you decline das Schaf?
Like all German nouns, Schaf changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Schaf
- Akkusativ: das Schaf
- Dativ: dem Schaf
- Genitiv: des Schafes
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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