Why does the noun Zuname 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 Zuname

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Zunameein Zuname—
Akkusativden Zunameeinen Zuname—
Dativdem Zunameeinem Zuname—
Genitivdes Zunameseines Zunames—

Examples in context

Real sentences using Zuname in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
—
Akkusativ
—
Dativ
—
Genitiv
—

GET THE APP

Practice der Zuname in the app

Master der Zuname (and 5,000+ other German nouns) with quizzes, smart review, and instant grammar tips.

  • 5,000+ nouns with translations in 11 languages
  • Quizzes by level, category, or your weakest words
  • Snap a photo of any German text — extract nouns instantly
Der Artikel app — quiz screen Der Artikel app — grammar rule tooltip

Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Zuname?

It is der Zuname. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Zuname 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 Zuname?

The plural form of der Zuname is die Zunamen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Zuname mean in English?

The German word der Zuname translates to “surname” in English.

How do you decline der Zuname?

Like all German nouns, Zuname changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Zuname
  • Akkusativ: den Zuname
  • Dativ: dem Zuname
  • Genitiv: des Zunames

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.