The idea
Use die Lampe for the nominative singular, die Lampe for the accusative, der Lampe for the dative, and der Lampe for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Lampen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Lampe | die Lampen |
| Akkusativ | die Lampe | die Lampen |
| Dativ | der Lampe | den Lampen |
| Genitiv | der Lampe | der Lampen |
Meaning and useful combinations
Lampe names a light fitting or lamp. Licht is the light itself; a Glühbirne is a bulb.
Useful combinations: eine Lampe einschalten; unter der Lampe; die Schreibtischlampe. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
das Lampedie LampeThis check asks for the nominative singular: die Lampe. In the meaning taught here, Lampe is feminine. The nominative plural is die Lampen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Die Lampe über dem Esstisch flackert.The lamp above the dining table is flickering.
- Ich schalte die Lampe erst nach Sonnenuntergang ein.I only switch on the lamp after sunset.
- Unter der Lampe kann ich gut lesen.I can read well under the lamp.
- Das Kabel der Lampe ist zu kurz.The lamp's cable is too short.
- Im Schaufenster leuchten drei gelbe Lampen.Three yellow lamps are glowing in the shop window.
- An den Lampen hängen kleine Preisschilder.Small price labels hang on the lamps.
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 die Lampe — die Lampen. Lampe names a light fitting or lamp. Licht is the light itself; a Glühbirne is a bulb.
Try it yourself
___ Lampe (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
die
die: Lampe is feminine.
Plural: die Lampe → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Lampen
Lampen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Lampe (dem / der)
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der
der: mit takes the dative, giving mit der Lampe.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Lampe (der / die / das)
Plural: die Lampe → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Lampe (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 Lampe and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.