Why does the noun Verfassung have the article die?

Nouns ending in -ung are always feminine. Look at the bolded -ung in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment), die Bildung (education), die Hoffnung (hope), die Übung (exercise), die Meinung (opinion), die Erfahrung (experience)

Exceptions

der Sprung (jump), der Schwung (momentum) - these are verb stems, not the -ung suffix

Declension table for German noun Verfassung

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Verfassungeine Verfassungkeine Verfassung
Akkusativdie Verfassungeine Verfassungkeine Verfassung
Dativder Verfassungeiner Verfassungkeiner Verfassung
Genitivder Verfassungeiner Verfassungkeiner Verfassung

Examples in context

Real sentences using Verfassung in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die neue Verfassung ist gültig.The new constitution is valid.
Eine gute Verfassung ist wichtig.A good constitution is important.
Keine alte Verfassung ist perfekt.No old constitution is perfect.
Akkusativ
Wir respektieren die deutsche Verfassung.We respect the German constitution.
Er hat eine gute Verfassung.He has a good constitution (state of health).
Sie will keine alte Verfassung ändern.She doesn't want to change any old constitution.
Dativ
Ich glaube an der gute Verfassung.I believe in the good constitution.
Er arbeitet an einer neuen Verfassung.He is working on a new constitution.
Sie denkt an keiner alten Verfassung.She doesn't think about any old constitution.
Genitiv
Die Änderung der alten Verfassung ist geplant.The amendment of the old constitution is planned.
Die Prinzipien einer guten Verfassung sind klar.The principles of a good constitution are clear.
Der Inhalt keiner neuen Verfassung ist bekannt.The content of no new constitution is known.

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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 Verfassung?

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

What CEFR level is the word Verfassung?

The German noun Verfassung is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of die Verfassung?

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

What does die Verfassung mean in English?

The German word die Verfassung translates to “constitution” in English.

How do you decline die Verfassung?

Like all German nouns, Verfassung changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Verfassung
  • Akkusativ: die Verfassung
  • Dativ: der Verfassung
  • Genitiv: der Verfassung

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.