The idea
Use der Kuchen for the nominative singular, den Kuchen for the accusative, dem Kuchen for the dative, and des Kuchens for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Kuchen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kuchen | die Kuchen |
| Akkusativ | den Kuchen | die Kuchen |
| Dativ | dem Kuchen | den Kuchen |
| Genitiv | des Kuchens | der Kuchen |
Meaning and useful combinations
Kuchen keeps the same nominative plural. Ein Stück Kuchen is one slice or piece, not necessarily a whole cake.
Useful combinations: einen Kuchen backen; ein Stück Kuchen; der Apfelkuchen. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
die Kuchender KuchenThis check asks for the nominative singular: der Kuchen. In the meaning taught here, Kuchen is masculine. The nominative plural is die Kuchen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Der Kuchen in der runden Form muss noch abkühlen.The cake in the round tin still needs to cool.
- Wir backen einen Kuchen für den neuen Nachbarn.We bake a cake for the new neighbor.
- Auf dem Kuchen liegt eine dünne Schicht Glasur.There is a thin layer of icing on the cake.
- Die Mitte des Kuchens ist noch weich.The center of the cake is still soft.
- Beim Schulfest werden selbst gebackene Kuchen verkauft.Home-baked cakes are sold at the school fair.
- Neben den Kuchen stehen Schilder mit den Zutaten.Signs listing the ingredients stand next to the cakes.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is der Kuchen — die Kuchen. Kuchen keeps the same nominative plural. Ein Stück Kuchen is one slice or piece, not necessarily a whole cake.
Try it yourself
___ Kuchen (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: Kuchen is masculine.
Plural: der Kuchen → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Kuchen
Kuchen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Kuchen (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
dem
dem: mit takes the dative, giving mit dem Kuchen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Kuchen (der / die / das)
Plural: der Kuchen → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Kuchen (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 Kuchen and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.