"Vater" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Väter (with Umlaut). In English, Vater means "father"."Der Vater" is one of the first family vocabulary words you'll learn in German — essential A1 vocabulary that appears in nearly every textbook and conversation about family. The gender is straightforward (male person = masculine), but the Umlaut plural catches many beginners off guard. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Male persons are always masculine in German — no exceptions. The plural adds an Umlaut (a → ä) but no extra ending: Vater → Väter. This Umlaut-only plural is common for masculine nouns ending in -er and -el. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
Vater — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Vater | die Väter |
| Genitive | des Vaters | der Väter |
| Dative | dem Vater | den Vätern |
| Accusative | den Vater | die Väter |
Example Sentences with Vater
Der Vater kocht heute Abendessen.
(The father is cooking dinner today.) — Nominative
Ich besuche den Vater am Wochenende.
(I'm visiting the father on the weekend.) — Accusative
Das Kind gibt dem Vater ein Geschenk.
(The child gives the father a present.) — Dative
Das Auto des Vaters steht in der Garage.
(The father's car is in the garage.) — Genitive
Die Väter warten vor der Schule.
(The fathers are waiting in front of the school.) — Nominative Plural
Die Lehrerin spricht mit den Vätern.
(The teacher is speaking with the fathers.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): die Mutter (mother), die Eltern (parents — plural only), väterlich (fatherly — adjective), die Vaterschaft (fatherhood/paternity)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Großvater (grandfather), der Stiefvater (stepfather), der Schwiegervater (father-in-law), das Vaterland (fatherland/homeland), der Vatertag (Father's Day), die Vaterfigur (father figure)
Common Mistake with Vater
❌ Common mistake: Die Vaters warten draußen.
✅ Correct: Die Väter warten draußen.
💡 Why: The plural of "Vater" is die Väter — with an Umlaut (a → ä), not with an -s ending. Adding -s is an English habit that doesn't work in German. The same Umlaut pattern applies to der Bruder → die Brüder and die Mutter → die Mütter.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. ___ Vater arbeitet bei einer Bank.
- A) Die
- B) Das
- C) Der
Check Answer
"Der Vater" — Male persons are always masculine in German. In the nominative, the article is der.
2. Das Mädchen schenkt ___ Vater eine Krawatte.
- A) den Vater
- B) der Vater
- C) dem Vater
Check Answer
"Schenken" requires a dative object (to whom?). Masculine nouns use dem in the dative: dem Vater.
3. Die stolz___ Väter applaudieren.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After a definite article in the nominative plural, the adjective ending is always -en: die stolzen Väter, die kleinen Kinder, die schönen Frauen.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and Umlaut plurals.
More People & Family Nouns
- die Mutter — the mother
- der Sohn — the son
- die Tochter — the daughter
- der Junge — the boy
- das Mädchen — the girl
- das Kind — the child
- das Baby — the baby
- der Bruder — the brother
For more A1 vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Vater? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and tricky Umlaut plurals. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vater masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Vater is masculine — the correct article is der. Male family members are always masculine in German: der Vater, der Sohn, der Bruder, der Großvater. See all gender rules in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Vater?
The plural is die Väter — the vowel changes from a to ä (Umlaut), but no ending is added. This Umlaut-only plural is typical for masculine nouns ending in -er: der Bruder → die Brüder, der Mantel → die Mäntel.
What is the difference between Vater and Papa?
Der Vater is the standard, neutral word for "father" — used in formal contexts, documents, and general conversation. Der Papa is the informal equivalent, similar to "dad" or "daddy" in English. Both are masculine. Children typically say "Papa" or "Papi," while "Vater" is more common in writing and when talking about someone else's father.
How do you say grandfather in German?
"Grandfather" is der Großvater — literally "big father." The informal version is der Opa (grandpa). Both are masculine. The plural of Großvater follows the same Umlaut pattern: die Großväter.
