German word

Artikel

Pronunciation

IPA/aɐ̯ˈtiːkəl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounarticle

Example

Im Deutschen gibt es bestimmte und unbestimmte Artikel.

In German, there are definite and indefinite articles.

Illustration for Artikel (article)

More examples

In vielen Sätzen fehlt ein Artikel, wenn das Deutsche den Nullartikel benutzt.

In many sentences, an article is missing when German uses the zero article.

Core concept

A short label beside a noun or a clearly defined piece of writing or merchandise.

Common phrases

  • bestimmter Artikel

    definite article

  • unbestimmter Artikel

    indefinite article

Similar words

Bestimmter Artikel: A noun marker for a specific person, thing, or group, changing with gender, number, and case.
Unbestimmter Artikel: A noun marker for one unspecified person or thing, changing with gender, number, and case.
Nullartikel: Leaving out an article to express a general or unspecified meaning, often with jobs or substances.
Possessivbegleiter: A word before a noun that shows ownership or connection, changing with gender, number, and case.

Definition in German

grammatisches Wort vor einem Nomen, das anzeigt, ob das Nomen bestimmt oder unbestimmt ist; nebenbei gebräuchlich für einen Artikel im Sinne von Text oder Ware.

Word origin

Latin articulus originally referred to a joint or separate part, and German Artikel uses this inherited idea for a grammatical marker and for a distinct text or product.

Usage tips

  • German articles change for gender, number, and case, so English definiteness alone does not determine whether to use der, die, das, or an inflected form.

Other meanings

  • itemnoun

Opposites

  • Nullartikelzero articlenoun

Related words

  • Online-Artikelonline articlenoun
  • Artikelkatalogproduct catalognoun

Word lists with this word