Indefinite articles in German signal that you are referring to a non-specific noun and they change form according to gender, case, and number.
Articles
The three main indefinite articles are ein for masculine and neuter nouns, eine for feminine nouns, and kein to negate them when needed.
| German Article | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| ein | a / an | |
| eine | a / an | |
| kein | no / not any |
Gender
Indefinite articles agree with the noun's gender: ein marks masculine or neuter, eine marks feminine, and you choose the form accordingly.
Cases
The article changes form depending on whether the noun is in the nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive case, affecting sentences and prepositions.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ein | eine | ein | keine | |
| Accusative | einen | eine | ein | keine | |
| Dative | einem | einer | einem | keinen | |
| Genitive | eines | einer | eines | keiner |
Usage
Use indefinite articles when introducing someone or something for the first time, when the identity is unimportant, or when describing a general example.
Summary
Indefinite articles signal an unspecific noun and must match gender, case, and number; learn the basic forms for ein, eine, and kein to shape clear sentences.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025