Why does the noun Teil 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 Teil

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Teilein Teilkein Teil
Akkusativden Teileinen Teilkeinen Teil
Dativdem Teileinem Teilkeinem Teil
Genitivdes Teileseines Teileskeines Teiles

Examples in context

Real sentences using Teil in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der erste Teil ist fertig.The first part is ready.
Ein großer Teil fehlt noch.A large part is still missing.
Kein guter Teil war dabei.No good part was included.
Akkusativ
Ich lese den zweiten Teil.I am reading the second part.
Er kauft einen neuen Teil.He is buying a new part.
Wir brauchen keinen alten Teil.We don't need an old part.
Dativ
Ich arbeite an dem letzten Teil.I am working on the last part.
Wir helfen mit einem kleinen Teil.We help with a small part.
Mit keinem einzigen Teil passt es.It fits with no single part.
Genitiv
Das Ende des ersten Teiles naht.The end of the first part is near.
Der Preis eines neuen Teiles ist hoch.The price of a new part is high.
Die Funktion keines alten Teiles ist klar.The function of no old part 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 Teil?

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

What CEFR level is the word Teil?

The German noun Teil is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of der Teil?

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

What does der Teil mean in English?

The German word der Teil translates to “part” in English.

How do you decline der Teil?

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

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.