"Baby" is neuter in German — the correct article is das. The plural is die Babys. In English, Baby means "baby"."Das Baby" is a straightforward A1 vocabulary word — the spelling and meaning are identical to English. What surprises some learners is the neuter gender and the unusual -s plural, which is rare in German. As a loanword from English, "Baby" doesn't follow the typical German plural patterns. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz. For more family vocabulary, check out the A1 Family Words list.
Gender rule: Young humans and animals are typically neuter in German (das Baby, das Kind, das Lamm). The plural die Babys with -s is unusual for German and comes from the English origin of the word. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
Baby — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Baby | die Babys |
| Genitive | des Babys | der Babys |
| Dative | dem Baby | den Babys |
| Accusative | das Baby | die Babys |
Example Sentences with Baby
Das Baby schläft den ganzen Tag.
(The baby sleeps all day.) — Nominative
Sie hält das Baby auf dem Arm.
(She is holding the baby in her arms.) — Accusative
Die Mutter singt dem Baby ein Lied vor.
(The mother sings a song to the baby.) — Dative
Die Kleidung des Babys ist ganz neu.
(The baby's clothes are brand new.) — Genitive
Die Babys in der Krabbelgruppe sind alle unter einem Jahr.
(The babies in the playgroup are all under one year old.) — Nominative Plural
Sie hat den Babys Spielzeug gegeben.
(She gave toys to the babies.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): der Säugling (infant — formal), das Kleinkind (toddler), das Neugeborene (newborn), babysitten (to babysit — verb)
Common compounds (Komposita): das Babybett (crib), die Babynahrung (baby food), der Babysitter (babysitter), der Babyschuh (baby shoe), die Babyflasche (baby bottle)
Common Mistake with Baby
❌ Common mistake: Die Babyen schlafen.
✅ Correct: Die Babys schlafen.
💡 Why: "Baby" is an English loanword and forms its plural with -s, not with -en or -er like most German nouns. The same applies to other loanwords: das Hobby → die Hobbys, das Handy → die Handys. Don't apply German plural rules to English loanwords.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. ___ Baby lacht.
- A) Der
- B) Die
- C) Das
Check Answer
"Das Baby" — Young humans are typically neuter in German. Same rule: das Kind, das Mädchen.
2. Die Oma gibt ___ Baby einen Teddy.
- A) das
- B) dem
- C) den
Check Answer
"Geben" requires a dative object (to whom?). Neuter nouns use dem in the dative: dem Baby.
3. Das klein___ Baby weint.
- A) -e
- B) -es
- C) -en
Check Answer
After a definite article in the nominative, the adjective ending is -e for all genders: das kleine Baby, der große Mann, die schöne Frau.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and common neuter nouns.
More People & Family Nouns
- das Kind — the child
- das Mädchen — the girl
- der Junge — the boy
- der Vater — the father
- die Mutter — the mother
- der Sohn — the son
- die Tochter — the daughter
- die Familie — the family
For more A1 vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Baby? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and common loanwords. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baby masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Baby is neuter — the correct article is das. Young humans and animals are typically neuter in German, regardless of the actual sex of the child. The same rule applies to das Kind (child) and das Mädchen (girl).
What is the plural of Baby in German?
The plural is die Babys — with an -s, just like in English. This -s plural is typical for English and French loanwords in German. Note: it's Babys without an apostrophe (not Baby's).
Is Baby a German word or an English loanword?
"Baby" was borrowed from English and is now fully integrated into the German language. The Duden (the standard German dictionary) lists it as a standard German noun. It follows German grammar rules — neuter gender, definite article das, and declension like any other German noun — but keeps its English -s plural.
What is the difference between Baby and Säugling?
Das Baby and der Säugling both mean "baby/infant," but Säugling is more formal and used primarily in medical or official contexts. In everyday conversation, Germans almost always say Baby. Note that Säugling is masculine (der), not neuter — the -ling ending always makes a noun masculine.
