Singular
der
Wille
will
Plural: die Willen
Why does the noun Wille 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 Wille
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Wille | ein Wille | kein Wille |
| Akkusativ | den Willen | einen Willen | keinen Willen |
| Dativ | dem Willen | einem Willen | keinem Willen |
| Genitiv | des Willens | eines Willens | keines Willens |
| Nominativ | die Willen | Willen | keine Willen |
| Akkusativ | die Willen | Willen | keine Willen |
| Dativ | den Willen | Willen | keinen Willen |
| Genitiv | der Willen | Willen | keiner Willen |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Wille in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der starke Wille ist entscheidend.The strong will is crucial. | Ein fester Wille hilft immer.A firm will always helps. | Kein schwacher Wille führt zum Erfolg.No weak will leads to success. |
| Akkusativ | Ich bewundere den starken Willen.I admire the strong will. | Man braucht einen festen Willen.One needs a firm will. | Er hat keinen schwachen Willen.He has no weak will. |
| Dativ | Ich vertraue dem starken Willen.I trust the strong will. | Er folgt einem festen Willen.He follows a firm will. | Sie gibt keinem schwachen Willen nach.She doesn't give in to any weak will. |
| Genitiv | Die Kraft des starken Willens ist groß.The power of the strong will is great. | Die Stärke eines festen Willens ist klar.The strength of a firm will is clear. | Die Wirkung keines schlechten Willens ist gut.The effect of no weak will is good. |
| Nominativ | Die starken Willen sind bewundernswert.The strong wills are admirable. | Feste Willen sind selten zu finden.Firm wills are rarely found. | Keine schwachen Willen sind hier.No weak wills are here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir sehen die starken Willen der Menschen.We see the strong wills of people. | Ich spüre feste Willen überall.I feel firm wills everywhere. | Sie kennt keine schwachen Willen.She knows no weak wills. |
| Dativ | Ich spreche von den starken Willen.I am talking about the strong wills. | Man begegnet festen Willen oft.One often encounters firm wills. | Er arbeitet mit keinen schwachen Willen.He doesn't work with any weak wills. |
| Genitiv | Die Ziele der starken Willen sind hoch.The goals of the strong wills are high. | Die Ergebnisse fester Willen sind sichtbar.The results of firm wills are visible. | Die Folgen keiner schwachen Willen sind positiv.The consequences of no weak wills are positive. |
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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 Wille?
It is der Wille. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Wille 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 Wille?
The German noun Wille is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Wille?
The plural form of der Wille is die Willen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Wille mean in English?
The German word der Wille translates to “will” in English.
How do you decline der Wille?
Like all German nouns, Wille changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Wille
- Akkusativ: den Willen
- Dativ: dem Willen
- Genitiv: des Willens
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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