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Is it der, die oder das Leben?

DAS

The correct article in German of Leben is das. So it is das Leben! (nominative case)

The word Leben is neuter, therefore the correct article is das.

Finding the right gender of a noun

German articles are used similarly to the English articles,a and the. However, they are declined differently (change) according to the number, gender and case of their nouns.

In the German language, the gender and therefore article is fixed for each noun.

Test your knowledge!

Choose the correct article.

DER

DIE

DAS

Mai

The most difficult part of learning the German language is the articles (der, die, das) or rather the gender of each noun. The gender of each noun in German has no simple rule. In fact, it can even seem illogical. For example das Mädchen, a young girl is neutral while der Junge, a young boy is male.

It is a good idea to learn the correct article for each new word together - even if it means a lot of work. For example learning "der Hund" (the dog) rather than just Hund by itself. Fortunately, there are some rules about gender in German that make things a little easier. It might be even nicer if these rules didn't have exceptions - but you can't have everything! The best way to learn them is with the App - Der-Die-Das Train! (available for iOS and Android)

German nouns belong either to the gender masculine (male, standard gender) with the definite article der, to the feminine (feminine) with the definite article die, or to the neuter (neuter) with the definite article das.

  • for masculine: points of the compass, weather (Osten, Monsun, Sturm; however it is: das Gewitter), liquor/spirits (Wodka, Wein, Kognak), minerals, rocks (Marmor, Quarz, Granit, Diamant);

  • for feminine: ships and airplanes (die Deutschland, die Boeing; however it is: der Airbus), cigarette brands (Camel, Marlboro), many tree and plant species (Eiche, Pappel, Kiefer; aber: der Flieder), numbers (Eins, Million; however it is: das Dutzend), most inland rivers (Elbe, Oder, Donau; aber: der Rhein);

  • for neutrals: cafes, hotels, cinemas (das Mariott, das Cinemaxx), chemical elements (Helium, Arsen; however it is: der Schwefel, masculine elements have the suffix -stoff), letters, notes, languages and colors (das Orange, das A, das Englische), certain brand names for detergents and cleaning products (Ariel, Persil), continents, countries (die artikellosen: (das alte) Europa; however exceptions include: der Libanon, die Schweiz …).

German declension of Leben?

How does the declension of Leben work in the nominative, accusative, dative and genitive cases? Here you can find all forms in the singular as well as in the plural:

1 Singular Plural
Nominative das Leben die Leben
Genitive des Lebens der Leben
Dative dem Leben den Leben
Akkusative das Leben die Leben

What is the meaning of Leben in German?

Leben has various definitions in German:

[1] the epitome of everything organic, based on metabolism, reproduction and growth

[1] der Inbegriff alles Organischen, basierend auf Stoffwechsel, Vermehrung und Wachstum

[2] personal career, beginning with birth and ending with death, short for life path

[2] persönliche Laufbahn, beginnend mit der Geburt und endend mit dem Tod, kurz für Lebensweg

[3] short for: living conditions

[3] kurz für: Lebensumstände

[4] Computer games: remaining attempt that is still available after a virtual death

[4] Computerspiele: verbleibender Versuch, der nach einem virtuellen Tod noch zur Verfügung steht

How to use Leben in a sentence?

Example sentences in German using Leben with translations in English.

[1] „Sie begnügten sich mit den provenzalischen Stierspielen - da bleibt der Stier am Leben.“[2]

[1] "They contented themselves with the Provencal bull games - the bull stays alive there ." [2]

[1] Gibt es Leben auf dem Mars?

[1] Is there life on Mars?

[1, 2] „Wir tragen die Verantwortung für das Leben: das kleine Signalfeuer in der beängstigenden Dunkelheit, aus der wir kommen und in die wir zurückkehren werden.“[3]

[1, 2] "We are responsible for life: the little beacon in the frightening darkness from which we come and into which we will return ." [3]

[2] Er hatte ein erfülltes Leben.

[2] He had a full life.

[2] „Wir kehren zurück nach Deutschland und merken, dass hier unsere Leben sind.“[4]

[2] "We return to Germany and notice that our lives are here ." [4]

[3] Wie gefällt dir das Leben auf dem Land?

[3] How do you like life in the country?

[4] Sei vorsichtig, du hast nur noch zwei Leben!

[4] Be careful, you only have two lives left!

How do you pronounce Leben?

Leben
Leben
Leben
Leben (Österreich)
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