Why does the noun Stahl 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 Stahl

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Stahlein Stahlkein Stahl
Akkusativden Stahleinen Stahlkeinen Stahl
Dativdem Stahleinem Stahlkeinem Stahl
Genitivdes Stahlseines Stahlskeines Stahls

Examples in context

Real sentences using Stahl in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der starke Stahl ist neu.The strong steel is new.
Ein starker Stahl ist teuer.A strong steel is expensive.
Kein starker Stahl ist billig.No strong steel is cheap.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den starken Stahl dort.I see the strong steel there.
Ich brauche einen starken Stahl.I need a strong steel.
Ich habe keinen starken Stahl.I have no strong steel.
Dativ
Ich arbeite mit dem starken Stahl.I work with the strong steel.
Ich bin zufrieden mit einem starken Stahl.I am satisfied with a strong steel.
Ich bin mit keinem starken Stahl zufrieden.I am satisfied with no strong steel.
Genitiv
Die Härte des starken Stahls ist hoch.The hardness of the strong steel is high.
Der Preis eines starken Stahls steigt.The price of a strong steel is rising.
Der Wert keines starken Stahls ist klar.The value of no strong steel 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 Stahl?

It is der Stahl. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Stahl 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 Stahl?

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

What does der Stahl mean in English?

The German word der Stahl translates to “steel” in English.

How do you decline der Stahl?

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

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.