The idea
Use die Zitrone for the nominative singular, die Zitrone for the accusative, der Zitrone for the dative, and der Zitrone for the genitive. In the dative plural use den Zitronen.
| Kasus | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die Zitrone | die Zitronen |
| Akkusativ | die Zitrone | die Zitronen |
| Dativ | der Zitrone | den Zitronen |
| Genitiv | der Zitrone | der Zitronen |
Meaning and useful combinations
Zitrone is the fruit; Zitronensaft names its juice. The plural adds n to the final e.
Useful combinations: eine Scheibe Zitrone; eine Zitrone auspressen; der Zitronensaft. Practise each as a complete phrase; the article belongs to the noun even when an adjective comes between them.
Article check: nominative singular
das Zitronedie ZitroneThis check asks for the nominative singular: die Zitrone. In the meaning taught here, Zitrone is feminine. The nominative plural is die Zitronen. Learn both forms together; an English translation does not determine German gender.
Examples
- Die Zitrone ist für den heißen Tee gedacht.The lemon is intended for the hot tea.
- Ich halbiere die Zitrone auf einem kleinen Brett.I cut the lemon in half on a small board.
- Mit der Zitrone bekommt die Soße mehr Säure.The lemon makes the sauce more acidic.
- Die Schale der Zitrone wird fein abgerieben.The lemon peel is finely grated.
- Die Zitronen in der Schale sind unbehandelt.The lemons in the bowl are untreated.
- Aus drei Zitronen entsteht genug Saft für das Rezept.Three lemons provide enough juice for the recipe.
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Watch out
Do not transfer the gender of a translated word into German. The basic learning pair is die Zitrone — die Zitronen. Zitrone is the fruit; Zitronensaft names its juice. The plural adds n to the final e.
Try it yourself
___ Zitrone (der / die / das)
Show answer or example answer
die
die: Zitrone is feminine.
Plural: die Zitrone → die ___
Show answer or example answer
Zitronen
Zitronen: the plural has the article die in the nominative and accusative.
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Zitrone (dem / der)
Show answer or example answer
der
der: mit takes the dative, giving mit der Zitrone.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
___ Zitrone (der / die / das)
Plural: die Zitrone → die ___
Dativ Singular: mit ___ Zitrone (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 Zitrone and its forms, then complete the article, plural and dative checks without looking at the table.