Why does the noun Schwein 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 Schwein
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Schwein | ein Schwein | kein Schwein |
| Akkusativ | das Schwein | ein Schwein | kein Schwein |
| Dativ | dem Schwein | einem Schwein | keinem Schwein |
| Genitiv | des Schweines | eines Schweines | keines Schweines |
| Nominativ | die Schweine | Schweine | keine Schweine |
| Akkusativ | die Schweine | Schweine | keine Schweine |
| Dativ | den Schweinen | Schweinen | keinen Schweinen |
| Genitiv | der Schweine | Schweine | keiner Schweine |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Schwein in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das kleine Schwein schläft jetzt.The small pig is sleeping now. | Ein rosa Schwein frisst Gras.A pink pig eats grass. | Kein Schwein ist hier im Stall.No pig is here in the stable. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe das große Schwein dort.I see the big pig there. | Er kauft ein neues Schwein heute.He buys a new pig today. | Wir wollen kein Schwein im Haus.We don't want any pig in the house. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe dem alten Schwein nicht.I don't help the old pig. | Er gibt einem kleinen Schwein Wasser.He gives water to a small pig. | Ich traue keinem Schwein im Stall.I don't trust any pig in the stable. |
| Genitiv | Der Geruch des großen Schweines ist stark.The smell of the big pig is strong. | Die Farbe eines jungen Schweines ist hell.The color of a young pig is light. | Der Name keines Schweines ist bekannt.The name of no pig is known. |
| Nominativ | Die jungen Schweine rennen schnell.The young pigs run fast. | Viele Schweine spielen draußen.Many pigs play outside. | Keine Schweine sind im Garten.No pigs are in the garden. |
| Akkusativ | Sie füttert die kleinen Schweine gern.She likes to feed the small pigs. | Ich sehe viele Schweine im Feld.I see many pigs in the field. | Er hat keine Schweine gesehen.He saw no pigs. |
| Dativ | Er spricht mit den großen Schweinen.He talks with the big pigs. | Ich gebe vielen Schweinen Futter.I give food to many pigs. | Sie hilft keinen Schweinen im Garten.She helps no pigs in the garden. |
| Genitiv | Die Ställe der alten Schweine sind sauber.The stables of the old pigs are clean. | Das Leben vieler Schweine ist gut.The life of many pigs is good. | Die Namen keiner Schweine sind bekannt.The names of no pigs are known. |
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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 Schwein?
It is das Schwein. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schwein 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 Schwein?
The German noun Schwein is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Schwein?
The plural form of das Schwein is die Schweine. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Schwein mean in English?
The German word das Schwein translates to “pig” in English.
How do you decline das Schwein?
Like all German nouns, Schwein changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Schwein
- Akkusativ: das Schwein
- Dativ: dem Schwein
- Genitiv: des Schweines
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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