Why does the noun Zoo 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 Zoo
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Zoo | ein Zoo | kein Zoo |
| Akkusativ | den Zoo | einen Zoo | keinen Zoo |
| Dativ | dem Zoo | einem Zoo | keinem Zoo |
| Genitiv | des Zoos | eines Zoos | keines Zoos |
| Nominativ | die Zoos | Zoos | keine Zoos |
| Akkusativ | die Zoos | Zoos | keine Zoos |
| Dativ | den Zoos | Zoos | keinen Zoos |
| Genitiv | der Zoos | Zoos | keiner Zoos |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Zoo in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Der neue Zoo ist schön.The new zoo is beautiful. | Ein großer Zoo steht dort.A big zoo stands there. | Kein kleiner Zoo existiert.No small zoo exists. |
| Akkusativ | Ich sehe den neuen Zoo.I see the new zoo. | Er sucht einen schönen Zoo.He is looking for a beautiful zoo. | Wir brauchen keinen großen Zoo.We don't need a big zoo. |
| Dativ | Ich bin in dem neuen Zoo.I am in the new zoo. | Er arbeitet in einem kleinen Zoo.He works in a small zoo. | Sie ist in keinem guten Zoo.She is not in a good zoo. |
| Genitiv | Der Preis des neuen Zoos ist hoch.The price of the new zoo is high. | Die Lage eines guten Zoos ist wichtig.The location of a good zoo is important. | Die Größe keines kleinen Zoos zählt.The size of no small zoo matters. |
| Nominativ | Die großen Zoos sind neu.The big zoos are new. | Viele Zoos sind beliebt.Many zoos are popular. | Keine alten Zoos sind leer.No old zoos are empty. |
| Akkusativ | Sie mag die modernen Zoos.She likes the modern zoos. | Ich finde viele Zoos gut.I find many zoos good. | Wir kennen keine schlechten Zoos.We don't know any bad zoos. |
| Dativ | Ich bin in den großen Zoos.I am in the big zoos. | Er hilft vielen Zoos.He helps many zoos. | Wir sind in keinen Zoos.We are not in any zoos. |
| Genitiv | Die Regeln der großen Zoos sind klar.The rules of the big zoos are clear. | Die Qualität vieler Zoos ist gut.The quality of many zoos is good. | Die Sicherheit keiner schlechten Zoos gilt.The safety of no bad zoos applies. |
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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 Zoo?
It is der Zoo. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Zoo 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 Zoo?
The plural form of der Zoo is die Zoos. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does der Zoo mean in English?
The German word der Zoo translates to “zoo” in English.
How do you decline der Zoo?
Like all German nouns, Zoo changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: der Zoo
- Akkusativ: den Zoo
- Dativ: dem Zoo
- Genitiv: des Zoos
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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