Why does the noun Winter have the article der?
Seasons are masculine.
Examples
der Frühling (spring), der Sommer (summer), der Herbst (autumn), der Winter (winter)
Declension table for German noun Winter
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Winter | ein Winter | kein Winter |
| Akkusativ | den Winter | einen Winter | keinen Winter |
| Dativ | dem Winter | einem Winter | keinem Winter |
| Genitiv | des Winters | eines Winters | keines Winters |
| Nominativ | die Winter | Winter | keine Winter |
| Akkusativ | die Winter | Winter | keine Winter |
| Dativ | den Wintern | Wintern | keinen Wintern |
| Genitiv | der Winter | Winter | keiner Winter |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Winter in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der kalte Winter ist kalt.The cold winter is cold. | Ein milder Winter beginnt bald.A mild winter begins soon. | Kein kalter Winter ist schön.No cold winter is beautiful. |
| Akkusativ | Wir lieben den kalten Winter.We love the cold winter. | Ich mag einen milden Winter.I like a mild winter. | Sie mag keinen kalten Winter.She doesn't like a cold winter. |
| Dativ | In dem kalten Winter ist es dunkel.In the cold winter it is dark. | Nach einem milden Winter kommt der Frühling.After a mild winter comes spring. | Mit keinem kalten Winter bin ich glücklich.I am not happy with any cold winter. |
| Genitiv | Die Kälte des kalten Winters ist stark.The coldness of the cold winter is strong. | Die Schönheit eines milden Winters ist einzigartig.The beauty of a mild winter is unique. | Die Härte keines keines kalten Winters ist bekannt.The harshness of no cold winter is known. |
| Nominativ | Die kalten Winter sind lang.The cold winters are long. | Milde Winter sind kurz.Mild winters are short. | Keine kalten Winter sind angenehm.No cold winters are pleasant. |
| Akkusativ | Man erwartet die kalten Winter.One expects the cold winters. | Wir erleben milde Winter.We experience mild winters. | Ich sehe keine kalten Winter.I see no cold winters. |
| Dativ | In den kalten Wintern ist es ruhig.In the cold winters it is quiet. | Man träumt von milden Wintern.One dreams of mild winters. | Mit keinen kalten Wintern bin ich zufrieden.I am not satisfied with any cold winters. |
| Genitiv | Die Dauer der kalten Winter variiert.The duration of the cold winters varies. | Die Erinnerung milder Winter bleibt.The memory of mild winters remains. | Die Vorbereitung keiner kalten Winter ist nötig.The preparation of no cold winters is necessary. |
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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 Winter?
It is der Winter. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Winter 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 Winter?
The German noun Winter is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Winter?
The plural form of der Winter is die Winter. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Winter mean in English?
The German word der Winter translates to “winter” in English.
How do you decline der Winter?
Like all German nouns, Winter changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Winter
- Akkusativ: den Winter
- Dativ: dem Winter
- Genitiv: des Winters
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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