The idea
Use der Briefkasten for the nominative singular, den Briefkasten for the accusative, dem Briefkasten for the dative, and des Briefkastens for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Briefkästen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Briefkasten | die Briefkästen |
| Akkusativ | den Briefkasten | die Briefkästen |
| Dativ | dem Briefkasten | den Briefkästen |
| Genitiv | des Briefkastens | der Briefkästen |
Meaning and useful combinations
Briefkasten is a compound whose final part Kasten determines masculine gender. Briefkästen adds an umlaut.
Useful combinations: den Briefkasten leeren; im Briefkasten; ein gelber Briefkasten. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
die Briefkastender BriefkastenThis check asks for the nominative singular: der Briefkasten. In the meaning taught here, Briefkasten is masculine. The nominative plural is die Briefkästen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Der Briefkasten hängt links vom Eingang.The letterbox hangs to the left of the entrance.
- Ich leere den Briefkasten vor dem Frühstück.I empty the letterbox before breakfast.
- Im Briefkasten steckt eine Ansichtskarte.There is a postcard in the letterbox.
- Die Klappe des Briefkastens quietscht.The letterbox flap squeaks.
- Alle Briefkästen tragen jetzt Namensschilder.All the letterboxes now have nameplates.
- Unter den Briefkästen liegt ein Werbeprospekt.An advertising leaflet is lying under the letterboxes.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is der Briefkasten — die Briefkästen. Briefkasten is a compound whose final part Kasten determines masculine gender. Briefkästen adds an umlaut.
Try it yourself
___ Briefkasten (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: Briefkasten is masculine.
Plural: der Briefkasten → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Briefkästen
Briefkästen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Briefkasten (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
dem
dem: mit takes the dative, giving mit dem Briefkasten.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Briefkasten (der / die / das)
Plural: der Briefkasten → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Briefkasten (dem / der)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the six situations, identify Briefkasten and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.