Why does the noun Wolf 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 Wolf
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Wolf | ein Wolf | kein Wolf |
| Akkusativ | den Wolf | einen Wolf | keinen Wolf |
| Dativ | dem Wolf | einem Wolf | keinem Wolf |
| Genitiv | des Wolfes | eines Wolfes | keines Wolfes |
| Nominativ | die Wölfe | Wölfe | keine Wölfe |
| Akkusativ | die Wölfe | Wölfe | keine Wölfe |
| Dativ | den Wölfen | Wölfen | keinen Wölfen |
| Genitiv | der Wölfe | Wölfe | keiner Wölfe |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Wolf in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der wilde Wolf heult.The wild wolf howls. | Ein grauer Wolf läuft schnell.A gray wolf runs fast. | Kein kleiner Wolf ist zahm.No small wolf is tame. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den wilden Wolf.I see the wild wolf. | Sie malt einen grauen Wolf.She paints a gray wolf. | Er mag keinen kleinen Wolf.He doesn't like a small wolf. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe dem kranken Wolf.I help the sick wolf. | Er gibt einem hungrigen Wolf Futter.He gives food to a hungry wolf. | Sie spricht mit keinem wilden Wolf.She doesn't speak with a wild wolf. |
| Genitiv | Das Heulen des wilden Wolfes ist laut.The howling of the wild wolf is loud. | Die Spuren eines grauen Wolfes sind frisch.The tracks of a gray wolf are fresh. | Der Mut keines kleinen Wolfes ist groß.The courage of no small wolf is great. |
| Nominativ | Die hungrigen Wölfe jagen nachts.The hungry wolves hunt at night. | Graue Wölfe leben im Wald.Gray wolves live in the forest. | Keine jungen Wölfe sind hier.No young wolves are here. |
| Akkusativ | Wir besuchen die hungrigen Wölfe.We visit the hungry wolves. | Ich sehe graue Wölfe.I see gray wolves. | Sie fängt keine jungen Wölfe.She doesn't catch any young wolves. |
| Dativ | Ich gebe den jungen Wölfen Wasser.I give water to the young wolves. | Er hilft kranken Wölfen.He helps sick wolves. | Sie spielt mit keinen wilden Wölfen.She doesn't play with any wild wolves. |
| Genitiv | Die Augen der hungrigen Wölfe leuchten.The eyes of the hungry wolves glow. | Das Leben grauer Wölfe ist hart.The life of gray wolves is hard. | Die Jagd keiner jungen Wölfe ist schwer.The hunt of no young wolves is difficult. |
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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 Wolf?
It is der Wolf. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Wolf 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 Wolf?
The German noun Wolf is categorized as Elementary (A2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Wolf?
The plural form of der Wolf is die Wölfe. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Wolf mean in English?
The German word der Wolf translates to “wolf” in English.
How do you decline der Wolf?
Like all German nouns, Wolf changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Wolf
- Akkusativ: den Wolf
- Dativ: dem Wolf
- Genitiv: des Wolfes
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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