Why does the noun Schnur have the article die?

Most nouns ending in -ur are feminine.

Examples

die Kultur (culture), die Natur (nature), die Temperatur (temperature), die Figur (figure), die Frisur (hairstyle), die Prozedur (procedure)

Exceptions

das Abitur (graduation exam), das Futur (future tense)

Declension table for German noun Schnur

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Schnureine Schnurkeine Schnur
Akkusativdie Schnureine Schnurkeine Schnur
Dativder Schnureiner Schnurkeiner Schnur
Genitivder Schnureiner Schnurkeiner Schnur

Examples in context

Real sentences using Schnur in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die kleine Schnur ist hier.The small cord is here.
Hier ist eine neue Schnur.Here is a new cord.
Das ist keine alte Schnur.That is no old cord.
Akkusativ
Ich brauche die kleine Schnur.I need the small cord.
Er sucht eine neue Schnur.He is looking for a new cord.
Ich sehe keine alte Schnur.I see no old cord.
Dativ
Ich helfe der kleinen Schnur.I help the small cord.
Er spricht mit einer neuen Schnur.He talks with a new cord.
Ich gebe keiner alten Schnur Wasser.I give no water to an old cord.
Genitiv
Die Farbe der kleinen Schnur ist rot.The color of the small cord is red.
Der Preis einer neuen Schnur ist hoch.The price of a new cord is high.
Der Wert keiner alten Schnur ist null.The value of no old cord is zero.

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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 Schnur?

It is die Schnur. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schnur is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of die Schnur?

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

What does die Schnur mean in English?

The German word die Schnur translates to “cord/string” in English.

How do you decline die Schnur?

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

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.