The idea
Use der Mann for the nominative singular, den Mann for the accusative, dem Mann for the dative, and des Mannes for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Männern.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Mann | die Männer |
| Akkusativ | den Mann | die Männer |
| Dativ | dem Mann | den Männern |
| Genitiv | des Mannes | der Männer |
Meaning and useful combinations
Mann can mean an adult man or a husband. The pronoun man is a different word with one n and a lowercase initial.
Useful combinations: ein älterer Mann; mein Mann; der Mann am Empfang. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
die Mannder MannThis check asks for the nominative singular: der Mann. In the meaning taught here, Mann is masculine. The nominative plural is die Männer. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Der Mann neben dem Fenster wartet auf seine Tochter.The man beside the window is waiting for his daughter.
- Ich erkenne den Mann an seiner Stimme.I recognize the man by his voice.
- Dem Mann mit dem Fahrrad fehlt eine Luftpumpe.The man with the bicycle needs a pump.
- Die Tasche des Mannes steht unter der Bank.The man's bag is under the bench.
- Die Männer aus der Nachbarschaft reparieren gemeinsam den Zaun.The men from the neighborhood repair the fence together.
- Neben den Männern spielen mehrere Kinder.Several children are playing beside the men.
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 Mann — die Männer. Mann can mean an adult man or a husband. The pronoun man is a different word with one n and a lowercase initial.
Try it yourself
___ Mann (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: Mann is masculine.
Plural: der Mann → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Männer
Männer: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Mann (dem / der)
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dem
dem: mit takes the dative, giving mit dem Mann.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Mann (der / die / das)
Plural: der Mann → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Mann (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 Mann and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.