Why does the noun Schuh 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 Schuh
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Schuh | ein Schuh | kein Schuh |
| Akkusativ | den Schuh | einen Schuh | keinen Schuh |
| Dativ | dem Schuh | einem Schuh | keinem Schuh |
| Genitiv | des Schuhes | eines Schuhes | keines Schuhes |
| Nominativ | die Schuhe | Schuhe | keine Schuhe |
| Akkusativ | die Schuhe | Schuhe | keine Schuhe |
| Dativ | den Schuhen | Schuhen | keinen Schuhen |
| Genitiv | der Schuhe | Schuhe | keiner Schuhe |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Schuh in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der neue Schuh ist bequem.The new shoe is comfortable. | Ein alter Schuh liegt hier.An old shoe lies here. | Kein kleiner Schuh passt mir.No small shoe fits me. |
| Akkusativ | Ich kaufe den neuen Schuh.I buy the new shoe. | Er sucht einen alten Schuh.He is looking for an old shoe. | Sie trägt keinen kleinen Schuh.She wears no small shoe. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe dem neuen Schuh Glanz.I give the new shoe shine. | Er hilft einem alten Schuh.He helps an old shoe. | Sie passt keinem kleinen Schuh.She doesn't fit any small shoe. |
| Genitiv | Die Farbe des neuen Schuhes ist schön.The color of the new shoe is beautiful. | Der Preis eines alten Schuhes ist niedrig.The price of an old shoe is low. | Ich kenne den Besitzer keines kleinen Schuhes.I know the owner of no small shoe. |
| Nominativ | Die neuen Schuhe sind teuer.The new shoes are expensive. | Alte Schuhe sind oft kaputt.Old shoes are often broken. | Keine kleinen Schuhe sind da.No small shoes are there. |
| Akkusativ | Wir brauchen die neuen Schuhe.We need the new shoes. | Sie hat alte Schuhe gefunden.She found old shoes. | Ich sehe keine kleinen Schuhe.I see no small shoes. |
| Dativ | Er putzt den neuen Schuhen.He cleans the new shoes. | Wir geben alten Schuhen eine Chance.We give old shoes a chance. | Sie vertraut keinen kleinen Schuhen.She trusts no small shoes. |
| Genitiv | Die Größe der neuen Schuhe ist wichtig.The size of the new shoes is important. | Der Zustand alter Schuhe ist schlecht.The condition of old shoes is bad. | Ich sehe die Qualität keiner kleinen Schuhe.I see the quality of no small shoes. |
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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 Schuh?
It is der Schuh. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schuh 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 Schuh?
The German noun Schuh is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Schuh?
The plural form of der Schuh is die Schuhe. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Schuh mean in English?
The German word der Schuh translates to “shoe” in English.
How do you decline der Schuh?
Like all German nouns, Schuh changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Schuh
- Akkusativ: den Schuh
- Dativ: dem Schuh
- Genitiv: des Schuhes
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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