Why does the noun Tunnel 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 Tunnel
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Tunnel | ein Tunnel | kein Tunnel |
| Akkusativ | den Tunnel | einen Tunnel | keinen Tunnel |
| Dativ | dem Tunnel | einem Tunnel | keinem Tunnel |
| Genitiv | des Tunnels | eines Tunnels | keines Tunnels |
| Nominativ | die Tunnel | Tunnel | keine Tunnel |
| Akkusativ | die Tunnel | Tunnel | keine Tunnel |
| Dativ | den Tunneln | Tunneln | keinen Tunneln |
| Genitiv | der Tunnel | Tunnel | keiner Tunnel |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Tunnel in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der neue Tunnel ist lang.The new tunnel is long. | Ein neuer Tunnel ist offen.A new tunnel is open. | Kein neuer Tunnel ist sicher.No new tunnel is safe. |
| Akkusativ | Wir sehen den neuen Tunnel.We see the new tunnel. | Ich baue einen neuen Tunnel.I am building a new tunnel. | Er findet keinen neuen Tunnel.He finds no new tunnel. |
| Dativ | Ich fahre in dem neuen Tunnel.I drive in the new tunnel. | Er arbeitet an einem neuen Tunnel.He is working on a new tunnel. | Sie geht in keinem neuen Tunnel.She walks in no new tunnel. |
| Genitiv | Die Länge des neuen Tunnels ist groß.The length of the new tunnel is great. | Der Bau eines neuen Tunnels ist teuer.The construction of a new tunnel is expensive. | Die Sicherheit keines neuen Tunnels ist gut.The safety of no new tunnel is good. |
| Nominativ | Die neuen Tunnel sind fertig.The new tunnels are finished. | Neue Tunnel entstehen hier.New tunnels are being built here. | Keine neuen Tunnel sind geplant.No new tunnels are planned. |
| Akkusativ | Sie besuchen die neuen Tunnel.They visit the new tunnels. | Wir brauchen neue Tunnel.We need new tunnels. | Ich sehe keine neuen Tunnel.I see no new tunnels. |
| Dativ | Wir arbeiten an den neuen Tunneln.We are working on the new tunnels. | Ich helfe bei neuen Tunneln.I help with new tunnels. | Sie sprechen über keinen neuen Tunneln.They talk about no new tunnels. |
| Genitiv | Die Namen der neuen Tunnel sind unbekannt.The names of the new tunnels are unknown. | Der Bau neuer Tunnel ist wichtig.The construction of new tunnels is important. | Die Wartung keiner neuen Tunnel ist nötig.The maintenance of no new tunnels is necessary. |
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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 Tunnel?
It is der Tunnel. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Tunnel 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 Tunnel?
The plural form of der Tunnel is die Tunnel. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Tunnel mean in English?
The German word der Tunnel translates to “tunnel” in English.
How do you decline der Tunnel?
Like all German nouns, Tunnel changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Tunnel
- Akkusativ: den Tunnel
- Dativ: dem Tunnel
- Genitiv: des Tunnels
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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