Schal is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Schals. In English, Schal means scarf.Der Schal is an essential word in German clothing vocabulary, typically learned at the A1 level. You will need it as soon as the weather gets cold. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: There is no absolute ending-based rule for Schal — the article must be memorized. However, many short, monosyllabic nouns in German are masculine. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Schal — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Schal | die Schals |
| Genitive | des Schals | der Schals |
| Dative | dem Schal | den Schals |
| Accusative | den Schal | die Schals |
Example Sentences with Schal
Der neue Schal ist sehr kuschelig.
(The new scarf is very cozy.) — Nominative
Er vergisst seinen Schal fast jeden Tag.
(He forgets his scarf almost every day.) — Accusative
Zu dem Schal passt der graue Mantel perfekt.
(The gray coat goes perfectly with the scarf.) — Dative
Das Muster des Schals ist wirklich schön.
(The pattern of the scarf is really beautiful.) — Genitive
Die Schals aus reiner Wolle liegen im Regal.
(The scarves made of pure wool are lying on the shelf.) — Nominative Plural
Mit den warmen Schals können wir stundenlang spazieren gehen.
(With the warm scarves, we can go for a walk for hours.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): Schal is a loanword (originally Persian, borrowed into German via the English "shawl"), so it does not have a traditional German word family.
Common compounds (Komposita): der Wollschal (wool scarf), der Seidenschal (silk scarf), der Winterschal (winter scarf), der Fanschal (sports fan scarf)
Common Mistake with Schal
❌ Common mistake: Die Schäle sind sehr warm.
✅ Correct: Die Schals sind sehr warm.
💡 Why: The standard and most common plural is die Schals (adding an -s without an Umlaut). According to the Duden dictionary, die Schale is technically also a correct plural form, but it is rarely used. It is highly recommended to stick with die Schals to avoid confusion, because die Schale is an entirely different word meaning "bowl" or "peel" (like a banana peel).
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Farbe ___ gefällt mir am besten.
- A) des Schals
- B) dem Schal
- C) den Schal
Check Answer
"Die Farbe des Schals" — the genitive shows possession (the color of what?). Masculine genitive = des + noun adds -s: des Schals.
2. Sie wickelt ___ eng um den Hals.
- A) dem Schal
- B) den Schal
- C) der Schal
Check Answer
"Wickeln" takes an accusative object (what is she wrapping?). Masculine accusative = den: den Schal.
3. Er möchte einen neu___ Schal für den Winter kaufen.
- A) -en
- B) -er
- C) -es
Check Answer
After the indefinite article einen in the accusative masculine, the adjective ending is -en: einen neuen Schal.
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
- der Pullover — the sweater
- die Jacke — the jacket
- der Hut — the hat
- die Hose — the pants
- der Rock — the skirt
- das Kleid — the dress
For more themed words, explore the Vocabulary overview list, check out the full clothing vocabulary, or browse the grammar overview.
Is it der, die, or das Kollege? 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 Schal masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Schal is masculine — the correct article is der. Because it is a short word without a specific noun ending, there is no strict rule to determine its gender. It must be memorized: der Schal.
What is the plural of Schal?
The standard and most recommended plural is die Schals. The Duden dictionary also accepts die Schale as a correct plural form, but it is rarely used in everyday German. It is best to stick with die Schals to avoid confusion with the word for bowl or peel (die Schale).
What is the difference between Schal and Tuch?
Der Schal is usually a thicker, rectangular scarf worn specifically to keep warm in winter (e.g., a wool scarf). Das Tuch is often lighter, thinner, and sometimes square. It is worn more as a fashion accessory or in milder weather (e.g., a silk shawl or neckerchief).
