Why does the noun Spruch 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 Spruch

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Spruchein Spruchkein Spruch
Akkusativden Sprucheinen Spruchkeinen Spruch
Dativdem Sprucheinem Spruchkeinem Spruch
Genitivdes Sprucheseines Sprucheskeines Spruches

Examples in context

Real sentences using Spruch in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der alte Spruch ist wahr.The old saying is true.
Ein guter Spruch macht Mut.A good saying gives courage.
Kein Spruch ist hier bekannt.No saying is known here.
Akkusativ
Ich kenne den alten Spruch gut.I know the old saying well.
Er sagt einen neuen Spruch oft.He often says a new saying.
Wir hören keinen Spruch hier.We hear no saying here.
Dativ
Ich glaube dem alten Spruch nicht.I don't believe the old saying.
Er folgt einem guten Spruch immer.He always follows a good saying.
Ich denke an keinem Spruch.I am not thinking about any saying.
Genitiv
Die Bedeutung des alten Spruches ist klar.The meaning of the old saying is clear.
Der Ursprung eines neuen Spruches ist unbekannt.The origin of a new saying is unknown.
Der Inhalt keines Spruches ist wichtig.The content of no saying is important.

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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 Spruch?

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

What is the plural of der Spruch?

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

What does der Spruch mean in English?

The German word der Spruch translates to “saying, slogan” in English.

How do you decline der Spruch?

Like all German nouns, Spruch changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Spruch
  • Akkusativ: den Spruch
  • Dativ: dem Spruch
  • Genitiv: des Spruches

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.