Why does the noun Vogel 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 Vogel
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Vogel | ein Vogel | kein Vogel |
| Akkusativ | den Vogel | einen Vogel | keinen Vogel |
| Dativ | dem Vogel | einem Vogel | keinem Vogel |
| Genitiv | des Vogels | eines Vogels | keines Vogels |
| Nominativ | die Vögel | Vögel | keine Vögel |
| Akkusativ | die Vögel | Vögel | keine Vögel |
| Dativ | den Vögeln | Vögeln | keinen Vögeln |
| Genitiv | der Vögel | Vögel | keiner Vögel |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Vogel in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der kleine Vogel singt schön.The small bird sings beautifully. | Ein bunter Vogel fliegt hoch.A colorful bird flies high. | Kein alter Vogel ist hier.No old bird is here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den schönen Vogel dort.I see the beautiful bird there. | Er füttert einen kleinen Vogel oft.He often feeds a small bird. | Sie hat keinen bunten Vogel gesehen.She saw no colorful bird. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe dem kleinen Vogel Futter.I give the small bird food. | Sie hilft einem kranken Vogel jetzt.She is helping a sick bird now. | Er spricht mit keinem alten Vogel.He talks to no old bird. |
| Genitiv | Das Nest des kleinen Vogels ist leer.The nest of the small bird is empty. | Die Farbe eines bunten Vogels ist schön.The color of a colorful bird is beautiful. | Der Gesang keines alten Vogels ist bekannt.The song of no old bird is known. |
| Nominativ | Die jungen Vögel zwitschern laut.The young birds chirp loudly. | Wilde Vögel leben im Wald.Wild birds live in the forest. | Keine großen Vögel sind zu sehen.No big birds are to be seen. |
| Akkusativ | Wir hören die singenden Vögel gern.We like to hear the singing birds. | Ich fotografiere seltene Vögel manchmal.I sometimes photograph rare birds. | Er sieht keine wilden Vögel mehr.He sees no wild birds anymore. |
| Dativ | Wir lauschen den singenden Vögeln gern.We like to listen to the singing birds. | Er gibt jungen Vögeln Wasser.He gives young birds water. | Sie hilft keinen kranken Vögeln mehr.She helps no sick birds anymore. |
| Genitiv | Die Flügel der großen Vögel sind stark.The wings of the big birds are strong. | Das Futter wilder Vögel ist rar.The food of wild birds is rare. | Die Stimme keiner jungen Vögel ist zu hören.The voice of no young birds is to be heard. |
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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 Vogel?
It is der Vogel. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Vogel 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 Vogel?
The German noun Vogel is categorized as Beginner (A1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Vogel?
The plural form of der Vogel is die Vögel. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Vogel mean in English?
The German word der Vogel translates to “bird” in English.
How do you decline der Vogel?
Like all German nouns, Vogel changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Vogel
- Akkusativ: den Vogel
- Dativ: dem Vogel
- Genitiv: des Vogels
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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