Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles introduce nonspecific nouns and agree in gender, case, and number. This guide focuses on the basic forms of the German indefinite articles: ein, eine, and when there is no article.
Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles appear in singular nouns that are not specifically identified. German indefinite articles change form to match the noun's gender and case. There is no indefinite article in plural; use other quantifiers or leave it out.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ein Mann | a man | masculine nominative |
| eine Frau | a woman | feminine nominative |
| ein Kind | a child | neuter nominative |
| keine Bücher | no books | plural negation |
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌸 Eine Blume liegt auf dem Tisch. | A flower lies on the table. |
| 🍞 Ich habe ein Brot gekauft. | I bought a loaf of bread. |
| 📰 Er liest eine Zeitung im Park. | He is reading a newspaper in the park. |
| ☕ Sie trinkt einen Kaffee am Fenster. | She is drinking a coffee at the window. |
Usage
Use indefinite articles when mentioning someone or something for the first time, or when the exact identity does not matter. They signal that the noun is one among many rather than a specific known item.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌳 Ein Mann sitzt unter dem Baum. | A man is sitting under the tree. |
| 🐕 Sie haben einen Hund und eine Katze. | They have a dog and a cat. |
| 🎨 Er kauft ein Buch über Malerei. | He is buying a book about painting. |
| 🚲 Ich sehe eine Frau mit dem Fahrrad. | I see a woman with the bicycle. |
Summary
Indefinite articles in German are ein for masculine and neuter nouns in the nominative case, eine for feminine nouns, and they do not appear in the plural. Learn the basic forms by gender and practice switching them in simple sentences.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025