Why does the noun Vertrag 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 Vertrag

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Vertragein Vertragkein Vertrag
Akkusativden Vertrageinen Vertragkeinen Vertrag
Dativdem Vertrageinem Vertragkeinem Vertrag
Genitivdes Vertrageseines Vertrageskeines Vertrages

Examples in context

Real sentences using Vertrag in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der neue Vertrag ist gültig.The new contract is valid.
Hier liegt ein wichtiger Vertrag.An important contract lies here.
Kein passender Vertrag wurde gefunden.No suitable contract was found.
Akkusativ
Ich unterschreibe den neuen Vertrag.I am signing the new contract.
Wir brauchen einen schriftlichen Vertrag.We need a written contract.
Er hat keinen gültigen Vertrag gelesen.He has not read a valid contract.
Dativ
Ich stimme dem neuen Vertrag zu.I agree to the new contract.
Wir arbeiten nach einem festen Vertrag.We work according to a fixed contract.
Er traut keinem mündlichen Vertrag.He trusts no verbal contract.
Genitiv
Die Dauer des neuen Vertrages ist unklar.The duration of the new contract is unclear.
Das ist Teil eines langfristigen Vertrages.That is part of a long-term contract.
Trotz keines schriftlichen Vertrages gab es Probleme.Despite no written contract, there were problems.

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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 Vertrag?

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

The German noun Vertrag is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of der Vertrag?

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

What does der Vertrag mean in English?

The German word der Vertrag translates to “contract” in English.

How do you decline der Vertrag?

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

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.