Why does the noun Stamm 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 Stamm

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Stammein Stammkein Stamm
Akkusativden Stammeinen Stammkeinen Stamm
Dativdem Stammeinem Stammkeinem Stamm
Genitivdes Stammeseines Stammeskeines Stammes

Examples in context

Real sentences using Stamm in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der alte Stamm ist sehr dick.The old trunk is very thick.
Ein großer Stamm liegt im Wald.A large trunk lies in the forest.
Kein Stamm ist hier zu sehen.No trunk is visible here.
Akkusativ
Ich sehe den alten Stamm im Wald.I see the old trunk in the forest.
Er sucht einen guten Stamm für Holz.He is looking for a good trunk for wood.
Ich finde keinen Stamm hier.I don't find any trunk here.
Dativ
Er sitzt auf dem alten Stamm.He sits on the old trunk.
Sie arbeitet an einem großen Stamm.She works on a large trunk.
Er sitzt auf keinem Stamm gern.He doesn't like sitting on any trunk.
Genitiv
Die Rinde des alten Stammes ist rau.The bark of the old trunk is rough.
Die Farbe eines großen Stammes ist braun.The color of a large trunk is brown.
Die Höhe keines Stammes ist bekannt.The height of no trunk is 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 Stamm?

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

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

What does der Stamm mean in English?

The German word der Stamm translates to “trunk, stem, tribe” in English.

How do you decline der Stamm?

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

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.