Singular
das
Summen
sums, humming
Plural: die Summen
Why does the noun Summen 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 Summen
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Summen | ein Summen | kein Summen |
| Akkusativ | das Summen | ein Summen | kein Summen |
| Dativ | dem Summen | einem Summen | keinem Summen |
| Genitiv | des Summens | eines Summens | keines Summens |
| Nominativ | die Summen | Summen | keine Summen |
| Akkusativ | die Summen | Summen | keine Summen |
| Dativ | den Summen | Summen | keinen Summen |
| Genitiv | der Summen | Summen | keiner Summen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Summen in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das leise Summen ist schön.The quiet humming is beautiful. | Ein lautes Summen stört mich.A loud buzzing disturbs me. | Kein starkes Summen kommt.No strong buzzing is coming. |
| Akkusativ | Ich höre das ständige Summen.I hear the constant humming. | Sie mag ein sanftes Summen.She likes a gentle humming. | Er hört kein lautes Summen.He hears no loud buzzing. |
| Dativ | Ich lausche dem sanften Summen.I listen to the gentle humming. | Er arbeitet mit einem leisen Summen.He works with a quiet humming. | Sie stört sich an keinem lauten Summen.She isn't bothered by any loud buzzing. |
| Genitiv | Die Quelle des ständigen Summens ist nah.The source of the constant humming is near. | Der Grund eines leisen Summens ist unklar.The reason for a quiet humming is unclear. | Die Ursache keines lauten Summens ist bekannt.The cause of no loud buzzing is known. |
| Nominativ | Die vielen Summen sind nervig.The many buzzings are annoying. | Neue Summen beginnen jetzt.New hummings begin now. | Keine lauten Summen sind hier.No loud buzzings are here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir hören die vielen Summen.We hear the many buzzings. | Ich mag leise Summen.I like quiet hummings. | Sie mag keine lauten Summen.She doesn't like loud buzzings. |
| Dativ | Er gewöhnt sich an den vielen Summen.He gets used to the many buzzings. | Ich höre bei leisen Summen zu.I listen to quiet hummings. | Sie arbeitet trotz keinen lauten Summen.She works despite no loud buzzings. |
| Genitiv | Der Klang der vielen Summen ist einzigartig.The sound of the many buzzings is unique. | Die Wirkung leiser Summen ist beruhigend.The effect of quiet hummings is calming. | Die Stärke keiner lauten Summen ist gering.The strength of no loud buzzings is low. |
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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 Summen?
It is das Summen. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Summen is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What is the plural of das Summen?
The noun Summen is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.
What does das Summen mean in English?
The German word das Summen translates to “sums, humming” in English.
How do you decline das Summen?
Like all German nouns, Summen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Summen
- Akkusativ: das Summen
- Dativ: dem Summen
- Genitiv: des Summens
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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