The German Genitive Case
Form the genitive correctly with des/der and -s/-es, and know when to switch to von + dative in everyday speech.
The genitive shows possession or belonging, like English 's or 'of'. You'll meet it constantly in newspapers, official letters and formal writing.
In conversation, Germans often replace it with von + dative. You need to recognise both and use the genitive when writing.
The genitive shows whose
The genitive noun usually comes after the thing it owns: das Auto meines Vaters. Names are the exception and go in front.
Das ist das Auto meines Vaters.
That's my father's car.
Die Farbe des Hauses gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the house.
Annas Wohnung liegt im dritten Stock.
Anna's flat is on the third floor.
Genitive forms
- Masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es.
- -es after s, ß, x, z, and often with one syllable.
- Feminine and plural nouns take no ending.
Definite article
- Masculinedes
- Feminineder
- Neuterdes
- Pluralder
Indefinite and possessive
- Masculineeines / meines
- Feminineeiner / meiner
- Neutereines / meines
- Pluralmeiner
Noun endings
- Masculinedes Mannes
- Masculine, longerdes Lehrers
- Neuterdes Kindes
- Feminineder Frauno ending
- Pluralder Kinderno ending
Names and von + dative
Names add -s with no apostrophe. In everyday speech, von + dative often replaces the genitive.
Das ist Peters Fahrrad.
That's Peter's bike.
Das ist das Fahrrad von meinem Bruder.
That's my brother's bike.
Genitive prepositions
wegen, trotz, während, statt, innerhalb and außerhalb take the genitive in standard German.
Wegen des Regens bleiben wir zu Hause.
Because of the rain we're staying at home.
Trotz der Kälte gehen wir spazieren.
Despite the cold we're going for a walk.
Common mistakes
✗
Das ist das Auto meines Vater.✓ Das ist das Auto meines Vaters.
Masculine nouns add -s in the genitive.
✗
Das ist Anna's Wohnung.✓ Das ist Annas Wohnung.
German names take -s without an apostrophe.
✗
Die Tür der Hauses ist offen.✓ Die Tür des Hauses ist offen.
Haus is neuter: des, not der.
Questions learners ask
Is the German genitive dying out?
In speech, von + dative replaces it a lot. In writing, the news and formal German it's alive and expected.
When do I add -s and when -es?
Use -es after s, ß, x and z (des Hauses) and often with one-syllable nouns (des Tisches). Longer nouns take -s (des Computers).
Is 'wegen dem Wetter' wrong?
In casual speech it's very common and accepted. In writing, use the genitive: wegen des Wetters.