Why does the noun Volk have the article das?
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 Volk
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Volk | ein Volk | kein Volk |
| Akkusativ | das Volk | ein Volk | kein Volk |
| Dativ | dem Volk | einem Volk | keinem Volk |
| Genitiv | des Volkes | eines Volkes | keines Volkes |
| Nominativ | die Völker | Völker | keine Völker |
| Akkusativ | die Völker | Völker | keine Völker |
| Dativ | den Völkern | Völkern | keinen Völkern |
| Genitiv | der Völker | Völker | keiner Völker |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Volk in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das ganze Volk feiert heute.The whole nation is celebrating today. | Ein starkes Volk braucht Führung.A strong people needs leadership. | Kein Volk ist perfekt.No nation is perfect. |
| Akkusativ | Er versteht das ganze Volk.He understands the whole nation. | Man sieht ein glückliches Volk.One sees a happy people. | Ich sehe hier kein Volk.I see no people here. |
| Dativ | Er hilft dem ganzen Volk.He helps the whole nation. | Sie spricht zu einem großen Volk.She is speaking to a large nation. | Das nützt keinem Volk.That benefits no nation. |
| Genitiv | Die Geschichte des ganzen Volkes.The history of the whole nation. | Die Kultur eines fremden Volkes.The culture of a foreign people. | Die Meinung keines Volkes zählt.The opinion of no nation counts. |
| Nominativ | Die verschiedenen Völker leben in Frieden.The different peoples live in peace. | Alte Völker haben eigene Kulturen.Ancient peoples have their own cultures. | Keine Völker sind gleich.No peoples are the same. |
| Akkusativ | Wir besuchen die verschiedenen Völker.We are visiting the different peoples. | Er studiert indigene Völker.He studies indigenous peoples. | Sie kennt keine anderen Völker.She knows no other peoples. |
| Dativ | Er gehört zu den verschiedenen Völkern.He belongs to the different peoples. | Sie handelt mit fernen Völkern.She trades with distant peoples. | Das gefällt keinen Völkern.No peoples like that. |
| Genitiv | Die Sprachen der verschiedenen Völker.The languages of the different peoples. | Die Rechte vieler Völker.The rights of many peoples. | Die Geschichte keiner alten Völker ist langweilig.The history of ancient peoples is never boring. |
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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 Volk?
It is das Volk. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Volk is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Volk?
The German noun Volk is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Volk?
The plural form of das Volk is die Völker. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Volk mean in English?
The German word das Volk translates to “people” in English.
How do you decline das Volk?
Like all German nouns, Volk changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Volk
- Akkusativ: das Volk
- Dativ: dem Volk
- Genitiv: des Volkes
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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