Adjective endings in German

The key principle

Something in the phrase has to show gender and case. If the article has already done it (der, dem, des), the adjective takes a plain -e or -en. If the article is “silent” (ein, mein, kein with no ending) or missing, the adjective carries the signal: ein guter Mann, ein kleines Kind, guter Kaffee.

Tip: After der, die, das there are only two endings: -e in the nominative singular and the feminine and neuter accusative, -en everywhere else.

After the definite article (der, die, das)

The weak declension. The same after dieser, jeder, welcher and alle.

After ein, kein, mein

The mixed declension: where the article has no ending (ein, kein, mein in the masculine and neuter nominative and the neuter accusative), the adjective shows the gender: -er for masculine, -es for neuter. Elsewhere it’s as after der: -e or -en. In the plural after keine, meine: -en.

With no article

The strong declension: the adjective takes the ending of the definite article (der → -er, die → -e, das → -es, dem → -em…). It’s used with substances (Wein, Milch), plurals with no article and after numbers: zwei gute Freunde.

• Listen: Ich trinke gern heißen Tee.Ich trinke gern heißen Tee.I like hot tea.
• Listen: Wir haben nette Nachbarn.Wir haben nette Nachbarn.We have nice neighbours.
• Listen: Mit freundlichen GrüßenMit freundlichen GrüßenKind regards (at the end of a letter)

After sein, werden, bleiben — no ending

When the adjective comes after the noun as part of the predicate with sein, werden, bleiben, it doesn’t change.

• Listen: Das Wetter ist schön. — das schöne WetterDas Wetter ist schön. — das schöne WetterThe weather is nice. — the nice weather
• Listen: Die Kinder werden müde.Die Kinder werden müde.The children are getting tired.