Kleid is neuter in German — the correct article is das. The plural is die Kleider. In English, Kleid means dress.Das Kleid is one of the most common words in German clothing vocabulary. It is typically learned at the A1 level. You will encounter it whenever talking about fashion, shopping, or getting dressed. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz to test your knowledge.
Gender rule: There is no clear ending-based rule for Kleid — the article must be memorized. Like many foundational clothing words from old Germanic roots (such as das Hemd), it is neuter. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Kleid — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Kleid | die Kleider |
| Genitive | des Kleides / des Kleids | der Kleider |
| Dative | dem Kleid | den Kleidern |
| Accusative | das Kleid | die Kleider |
Example Sentences with Kleid
Das neue Kleid sieht an dir wunderschön aus.
(The new dress looks beautiful on you.) — Nominative
Sie kauft das rote Kleid für die Party.
(She is buying the red dress for the party.) — Accusative
Die silbernen Schuhe passen perfekt zu dem Kleid.
(The silver shoes match the dress perfectly.) — Dative
Der feine Stoff des Kleides ist sehr teuer.
(The fine fabric of the dress is very expensive.) — Genitive
Die Kleider hängen ordentlich im Schrank.
(The dresses are hanging neatly in the closet.) — Nominative Plural
In den neuen Kleidern fühlen sie sich sehr wohl.
(They feel very comfortable in the new dresses.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): das Kleidchen (little dress — diminutive), die Kleidung (clothing), sich verkleiden (to dress up / disguise oneself)
Common compounds (Komposita): das Sommerkleid (summer dress), das Abendkleid (evening gown), das Brautkleid (wedding dress), das Cocktailkleid (cocktail dress)
Common Mistake with Kleid
❌ Common mistake: Die Kleide sind sehr elegant.
✅ Correct: Die Kleider sind sehr elegant.
💡 Why: The plural of Kleid is Kleider — with -er, not just "-e." This plural pattern applies to several neuter nouns: das Kleid → die Kleider, das Kind → die Kinder, das Bild → die Bilder.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Farbe ___ passt nicht zu ihren Schuhen.
- A) des Kleides
- B) dem Kleid
- C) das Kleid
Check Answer
"Die Farbe des Kleides" — the genitive shows possession (the color of what?). Neuter genitive = des + noun adds -es: des Kleides.
2. Sie sucht ___ für die Hochzeit ihrer Schwester.
- A) der Kleid
- B) dem Kleid
- C) das Kleid
Check Answer
"Suchen" takes an accusative object (what is she looking for?). Neuter accusative = das: das Kleid.
3. Zu ihrem Geburtstag möchte sie ein neu___ Kleid kaufen.
- A) -es
- B) -en
- C) -e
Check Answer
After the indefinite article ein in the accusative neuter, the adjective ending is -es: ein neues Kleid. The adjective takes over the gender signal that ein doesn't show.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns to drill — including everyday vocabulary. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
More Clothing Nouns & Vocabulary
- die Frau — the woman
- der Anzug — the suit
- die Badehose — the swim trunks
- der Bikini — the bikini
- die Bluse — the blouse
- die Brille — the glasses
- das Hemd — the shirt
- die Hose — the pants
- der Hut — the hat
- die Jacke — the jacket
For more themed words, explore the Vocabulary overview list, check out the German clothing vocabulary, or browse the full grammar overview.
Is it der, die, or das? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including everyday vocabulary. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kleid masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Kleid is neuter — the correct article is das. There is no strict ending-based rule that predicts this, so the article must be memorized. A helpful contrast: das Kleid (neuter) vs. die Hose (feminine) — both are standard items of clothing, but they have different genders.
What is the plural of Kleid?
The plural is die Kleider — with the ending -er. A common mistake is "die Kleide" (without the -r), but this is incorrect. In the dative plural, remember to add an extra -n: den Kleidern.
How do you say dress in German?
The German word for dress is das Kleid. You will also find it in many common compounds to describe specific types of dresses, such as das Sommerkleid (summer dress), das Abendkleid (evening gown), and das Brautkleid (wedding dress).
What is the difference between Kleid and Kleidung?
Das Kleid refers to a single piece of clothing: a dress (typically worn by women or girls). Die Kleidung is a collective noun that means "clothing" or "clothes" in general. While das Kleid can be pluralized to die Kleider (dresses), die Kleidung is almost exclusively used in the singular when talking about apparel as a whole.
