Singular
der
Schatten
shadow, shade
Plural: die Schatten
Why does the noun Schatten 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 Schatten
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Schatten | ein Schatten | kein Schatten |
| Akkusativ | den Schatten | einen Schatten | keinen Schatten |
| Dativ | dem Schatten | einem Schatten | keinem Schatten |
| Genitiv | des Schattens | eines Schattens | keines Schattens |
| Nominativ | die Schatten | Schatten | keine Schatten |
| Akkusativ | die Schatten | Schatten | keine Schatten |
| Dativ | den Schatten | Schatten | keinen Schatten |
| Genitiv | der Schatten | Schatten | keiner Schatten |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Schatten in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der dunkle Schatten fällt lang.The dark shadow falls long. | Ein langer Schatten liegt hier.A long shadow lies here. | Kein kleiner Schatten stört mich.No small shadow bothers me. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den dunklen Schatten.I see the dark shadow. | Er wirft einen langen Schatten.He casts a long shadow. | Sie mag keinen kleinen Schatten.She doesn't like any small shadow. |
| Dativ | Ich sitze in dem dunklen Schatten.I sit in the dark shadow. | Er steht in einem langen Schatten.He stands in a long shadow. | Sie geht keinem kleinen Schatten nach.She doesn't follow any small shadow. |
| Genitiv | Die Tiefe des dunklen Schattens ist groß.The depth of the dark shadow is great. | Die Form eines langen Schattens ändert sich.The shape of a long shadow changes. | Die Farbe keines kleinen Schattens ist klar.The color of no small shadow is clear. |
| Nominativ | Die großen Schatten tanzen dort.The big shadows dance there. | Helle Schatten sind selten.Bright shadows are rare. | Keine dunklen Schatten bleiben.No dark shadows remain. |
| Akkusativ | Wir sehen die großen Schatten.We see the big shadows. | Ich mag helle Schatten.I like bright shadows. | Er kennt keine dunklen Schatten.He knows no dark shadows. |
| Dativ | Wir spielen unter den großen Schatten.We play under the big shadows. | Ich begegne hellen Schatten.I encounter bright shadows. | Ich begegne keinen dunklen Schatten.I encounter no dark shadows. |
| Genitiv | Die Größe der großen Schatten beeindruckt.The size of the big shadows impresses. | Das Spiel heller Schatten ist schön.The play of bright shadows is beautiful. | Die Wirkung keiner dunklen Schatten ist stark.The effect of no dark shadows is strong. |
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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 Schatten?
It is der Schatten. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schatten 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 Schatten?
The German noun Schatten is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Schatten?
The plural form of der Schatten is die Schatten. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Schatten mean in English?
The German word der Schatten translates to “shadow, shade” in English.
How do you decline der Schatten?
Like all German nouns, Schatten changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Schatten
- Akkusativ: den Schatten
- Dativ: dem Schatten
- Genitiv: des Schattens
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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