Why does the noun Verfall 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 Verfall

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Verfallein Verfallkein Verfall
Akkusativden Verfalleinen Verfallkeinen Verfall
Dativdem Verfalleinem Verfallkeinem Verfall
Genitivdes Verfallseines Verfallskeines Verfalls

Examples in context

Real sentences using Verfall in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der alte Verfall ist sichtbar.The old decay is visible.
Ein schneller Verfall ist traurig.A rapid decay is sad.
Kein plötzlicher Verfall überrascht uns.No sudden decay surprises us.
Akkusativ
Wir sehen den alten Verfall deutlich.We clearly see the old decay.
Sie bemerkt einen schnellen Verfall.She notices a rapid decay.
Er sieht keinen plötzlichen Verfall nicht.He does not see any sudden decay.
Dativ
Er leidet unter dem alten Verfall.He suffers from the old decay.
Sie spricht von einem schnellen Verfall.She speaks of a rapid decay.
Mit keinem plötzlichen Verfall rechnet man.One does not expect any sudden decay.
Genitiv
Die Ursache des alten Verfalls ist klar.The cause of the old decay is clear.
Die Zeit eines schnellen Verfalls ist kurz.The time of a rapid decay is short.
Die Dauer keines plötzlichen Verfalls ist lang.The duration of no sudden decay is long.

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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 Verfall?

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

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

What does der Verfall mean in English?

The German word der Verfall translates to “decay, decline” in English.

How do you decline der Verfall?

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

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.