"Sohn" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Söhne (with Umlaut + -e). In English, Sohn means "son"."Der Sohn" is core family vocabulary at A1 level — one of the first words you'll learn alongside der Vater (father) and die Mutter (mother). The gender is straightforward (male person = masculine), but the plural with Umlaut + -e ending needs to be memorized. 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 both an Umlaut (o → ö) and an -e ending: Sohn → Söhne. See all gender patterns in the German Article Rules.
Sohn — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Sohn | die Söhne |
| Genitive | des Sohnes | der Söhne |
| Dative | dem Sohn | den Söhnen |
| Accusative | den Sohn | die Söhne |
Example Sentences with Sohn
Der Sohn hilft seinem Vater im Garten.
(The son is helping his father in the garden.) — Nominative
Die Mutter holt den Sohn von der Schule ab.
(The mother picks up the son from school.) — Accusative
Der Vater schenkt dem Sohn ein Fahrrad.
(The father gives the son a bicycle.) — Dative
Das Zimmer des Sohnes ist aufgeräumt.
(The son's room is tidy.) — Genitive
Die Söhne spielen im Park Fußball.
(The sons are playing soccer in the park.) — Nominative Plural
Sie hat den Söhnen das Abendessen gemacht.
(She made dinner for the sons.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): die Tochter (daughter), das Kind (child), die Eltern (parents), der Enkel (grandson), die Enkelin (granddaughter)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Schwiegersohn (son-in-law), der Stiefsohn (stepson), der Sohnemann (sonny — informal/affectionate), der Enkelsohn (grandson — less common than Enkel)
Common Mistake with Sohn
❌ Common mistake: Die Sohne spielen draußen.
✅ Correct: Die Söhne spielen draußen.
💡 Why: The plural of "Sohn" requires an Umlaut (o → ö): die Söhne, not "die Sohne." Forgetting the Umlaut in the plural is a common mistake. The same pattern applies to many short masculine nouns: der Arzt → die Ärzte, der Koch → die Köche, der Sohn → die Söhne.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. ___ Sohn ist zehn Jahre alt.
- A) Die
- B) Das
- C) Der
Check Answer
"Der Sohn" — Male persons are always masculine in German. In the nominative, the article is der.
2. Die Großeltern vermissen ___ Sohn sehr.
- A) der Sohn
- B) den Sohn
- C) dem Sohn
Check Answer
"Vermissen" takes an accusative object (whom?). Masculine accusative = den: den Sohn.
3. Die älter___ Söhne studieren in Berlin.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After a definite article in the nominative plural, the adjective ending is always -en: die älteren Söhne, die stolzen Väter, die kleinen Kinder.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and Umlaut plurals.
More People & Family Nouns
- die Tochter — the daughter
- der Vater — the father
- die Mutter — the mother
- der Bruder — the brother
- die Schwester — the sister
- das Kind — the child
- der Junge — the boy
- das Mädchen — the girl
For more A1 vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Sohn? 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 Sohn masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Sohn is masculine — the correct article is der. Male family members are always masculine in German: der Sohn, der Vater, der Bruder, der Onkel. See all gender rules in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Sohn?
The plural is die Söhne — with an Umlaut (o → ö) and an -e ending. Don't forget the Umlaut: "Sohne" without the dots is incorrect. This Umlaut + -e pattern is common for short masculine nouns: der Arzt → die Ärzte, der Koch → die Köche.
What is the difference between Sohn and Junge?
Der Sohn means "son" — it defines a family relationship (someone's child). Der Junge means "boy" — it describes age and gender without implying a family connection. A Sohn is always someone's son, but a Junge is simply any young male. Both are masculine, but "Junge" follows the N-Deklination while "Sohn" does not.
How do you say son-in-law in German?
"Son-in-law" is der Schwiegersohn — a compound of Schwieger- (in-law) + Sohn (son). It's masculine because the last word, Sohn, is masculine. The plural is die Schwiegersöhne — with the same Umlaut pattern as Sohn → Söhne.
