Why does the noun Wal 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 Wal
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Wal | ein Wal | kein Wal |
| Akkusativ | den Wal | einen Wal | keinen Wal |
| Dativ | dem Wal | einem Wal | keinem Wal |
| Genitiv | des Wals | eines Wals | keines Wals |
| Nominativ | die Wale | Wale | keine Wale |
| Akkusativ | die Wale | Wale | keine Wale |
| Dativ | den Walen | Walen | keinen Walen |
| Genitiv | der Wale | Wale | keiner Wale |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Wal in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der große Wal schwimmt schnell.The big whale swims fast. | Ein großer Wal ist im Meer.A big whale is in the sea. | Kein großer Wal lebt hier.No big whale lives here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den großen Wal.I see the big whale. | Er beobachtet einen großen Wal.He observes a big whale. | Sie mag keinen großen Wal.She doesn't like any big whale. |
| Dativ | Ich schwimme mit dem großen Wal.I swim with the big whale. | Er spricht von einem großen Wal.He talks about a big whale. | Sie hilft keinem großen Wal.She doesn't help any big whale. |
| Genitiv | Die Flosse des großen Wals ist riesig.The fin of the big whale is huge. | Der Gesang eines großen Wals ist schön.The song of a big whale is beautiful. | Ich kenne die Art keines großen Wals.I don't know the species of any big whale. |
| Nominativ | Die großen Wale tauchen tief.The big whales dive deep. | Große Wale sind beeindruckend.Big whales are impressive. | Keine großen Wale sind in diesem See.No big whales are in this lake. |
| Akkusativ | Wir sehen die großen Wale.We see the big whales. | Ich suche große Wale.I am looking for big whales. | Er kennt keine großen Wale.He doesn't know any big whales. |
| Dativ | Ich folge den großen Walen.I follow the big whales. | Er erzählt von großen Walen.He tells about big whales. | Sie begegnet keinen großen Walen.She doesn't encounter any big whales. |
| Genitiv | Die Größe der großen Wale ist enorm.The size of the big whales is enormous. | Die Routen großer Wale sind lang.The routes of big whales are long. | Ich sehe die Augen keiner großen Wale.I don't see the eyes of any big whales. |
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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 Wal?
It is der Wal. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Wal 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 Wal?
The plural form of der Wal is die Wale. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Wal mean in English?
The German word der Wal translates to “whale” in English.
How do you decline der Wal?
Like all German nouns, Wal changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Wal
- Akkusativ: den Wal
- Dativ: dem Wal
- Genitiv: des Wals
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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