Why does the noun Tod 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 Tod
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Tod | ein Tod | kein Tod |
| Akkusativ | den Tod | einen Tod | keinen Tod |
| Dativ | dem Tod | einem Tod | keinem Tod |
| Genitiv | des Todes | eines Todes | keines Todes |
| Nominativ | die Tode | Tode | keine Tode |
| Akkusativ | die Tode | Tode | keine Tode |
| Dativ | den Toden | Toden | keinen Toden |
| Genitiv | der Tode | Tode | keiner Tode |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Tod in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der plötzliche Tod kam unerwartet.The sudden death came unexpectedly. | Ein natürlicher Tod ist ein Teil des Lebens.A natural death is a part of life. | Kein gewaltsamer Tod ist hier die Ursache.No violent death is the cause here. |
| Akkusativ | Er fand den sicheren Tod.He met certain death. | Sie fürchtet einen qualvollen Tod.She fears an agonizing death. | Ich wünsche ihm keinen frühen Tod.I do not wish him an early death. |
| Dativ | Er ist dem sicheren Tod entkommen.He escaped certain death. | Sie war einem jähen Tod nahe.She was close to a sudden death. | Er entging keinem grausamen Tod.He did not escape a cruel death. |
| Genitiv | Die Ursache des plötzlichen Todes ist unklar.The cause of the sudden death is unclear. | Das ist die Geschichte eines tragischen Todes.This is the story of a tragic death. | Trotz keines sicheren Todes gab er auf.Despite no certain death, he did not give up. |
| Nominativ | Die mysteriösen Tode wurden untersucht.The mysterious deaths were investigated. | Verschiedene Tode sind in diesem Buch beschrieben.Different types of death are described in this book. | Es gab keine weiteren Tode in der Stadt.There were no further deaths in the city. |
| Akkusativ | Wir betrauern die tragischen Tode der Opfer.We mourn the tragic deaths of the victims. | Die Geschichte erzählt heldenhafte Tode.The story tells of heroic deaths. | Er hat keine sinnlosen Tode gesehen.He has seen no senseless deaths. |
| Dativ | Nach den plötzlichen Toden gab es eine Untersuchung.An investigation took place after the sudden deaths. | Er entkam zahlreichen Toden nur knapp.He narrowly escaped numerous deaths. | Das Land trauert bei keinen unnötigen Toden.The country does not mourn any unnecessary deaths. |
| Genitiv | Das Gedenken der sinnlosen Tode ist wichtig.The remembrance of the senseless deaths is important. | Es ist eine Zeit unerwarteter Tode.It is a time of unexpected deaths. | Die Chronik keiner gewaltsamen Tode ist leer.The chronicle of no violent deaths is empty. |
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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 Tod?
It is der Tod. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Tod 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 Tod?
The German noun Tod is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Tod?
The plural form of der Tod is die Tode. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Tod mean in English?
The German word der Tod translates to “death” in English.
How do you decline der Tod?
Like all German nouns, Tod changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Tod
- Akkusativ: den Tod
- Dativ: dem Tod
- Genitiv: des Todes
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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