Why does the noun Schuld have the article die?

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 Schuld

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Schuldeine Schuldkeine Schuld
Akkusativdie Schuldeine Schuldkein Schuld
Dativder Schuldeiner Schuldkeiner Schuld
Genitivder Schuldeiner Schuldkeiner Schuld

Examples in context

Real sentences using Schuld in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die Schuld ist offensichtlich.The guilt is obvious.
Eine Schuld belastet ihn sehr.A guilt burdens him greatly.
Keine leichte Schuld ist leicht zu tragen.No guilt is easy to bear.
Akkusativ
Er trägt die Schuld allein.He bears the guilt alone.
Man findet eine neue Schuld.One finds a new guilt.
Ich sehe kein Schuld.I see no date.
Dativ
Er entgeht der Schuld nicht.He doesn't escape the guilt.
Man vergibt einer kleinen Schuld.One forgives a small guilt.
Ich glaube keiner Schuld leicht.I don't easily believe any guilt.
Genitiv
Die Last der Schuld ist groß.The burden of the guilt is great.
Die Ursache einer alten Schuld.The cause of an old guilt.
Die Schwere keiner Schuld ist klar.The severity of no guilt is clear.

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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 Schuld?

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

What CEFR level is the word Schuld?

The German noun Schuld is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of die Schuld?

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

What does die Schuld mean in English?

The German word die Schuld translates to “guilt” in English.

How do you decline die Schuld?

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

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.