Why does the noun Zoll 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 Zoll
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Zoll | ein Zoll | kein Zoll |
| Akkusativ | den Zoll | einen Zoll | keinen Zoll |
| Dativ | dem Zoll | einem Zoll | keinem Zoll |
| Genitiv | des Zolls | eines Zolls | keines Zolls |
| Nominativ | die Zölle | Zölle | keine Zölle |
| Akkusativ | die Zölle | Zölle | keine Zölle |
| Dativ | den Zöllen | Zöllen | keinen Zöllen |
| Genitiv | der Zölle | Zöllen | keiner Zölle |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Zoll in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der Zoll ist hoch.The customs duty is high. | Ein Zoll ist wichtig.A customs duty is important. | Kein Zoll ist nötig hier.No customs duty is necessary here. |
| Akkusativ | Ich zahle den Zoll.I pay the customs duty. | Er braucht einen Zoll.He needs a customs duty. | Sie will keinen Zoll.She doesn't want any customs duty. |
| Dativ | Ich helfe dem Zoll.I help the customs (authority). | Ich folge einem neuen Zoll.I follow a new customs rule. | Sie traut keinem Zoll.She trusts no customs duty. |
| Genitiv | Der Wert des Zolls ist hoch.The value of the customs duty is high. | Der Preis eines Zolls ist fair.The price of a customs duty is fair. | Die Höhe keines Zolls ist bekannt.The amount of no customs duty is known. |
| Nominativ | Die Zölle sind wichtig.The customs duties are important. | Zölle sind oft hoch.Customs duties are often high. | Keine Zölle sind erlaubt.No customs duties are allowed. |
| Akkusativ | Wir zahlen die Zölle.We pay the customs duties. | Sie brauchen Zölle.They need customs duties. | Ich will keine Zölle.I don't want any customs duties. |
| Dativ | Er stimmt den Zöllen zu.He agrees to the customs duties. | Mit Zöllen ist es schwer.It is difficult with customs duties. | Sie arbeitet mit keinen Zöllen.She works with no customs duties. |
| Genitiv | Die Höhe der Zölle ist bekannt.The amount of the customs duties is known. | Die Wirkung von Zöllen ist klar.The effect of customs duties is clear. | Der Zweck keiner Zölle ist gut.The purpose of no customs duties is good. |
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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 Zoll?
It is der Zoll. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Zoll 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 Zoll?
The German noun Zoll is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of der Zoll?
The plural form of der Zoll is die Zölle. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Zoll mean in English?
The German word der Zoll translates to “customs” in English.
How do you decline der Zoll?
Like all German nouns, Zoll changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Zoll
- Akkusativ: den Zoll
- Dativ: dem Zoll
- Genitiv: des Zolls
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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