Fisch is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Fische. In English, Fisch translates to fish.Der Fisch is an important noun in the German food and drinks vocabulary as well as nature vocabulary. Whether you are reading a menu at a restaurant or talking about animals, this word appears frequently at the A1 level. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: As a short, monosyllabic Germanic root word, there is no strict ending-based rule to predict its gender — the masculine article must be memorized. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Fisch — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Fisch | die Fische |
| Genitive | des Fisches / Fischs | der Fische |
| Dative | dem Fisch | den Fischen |
| Accusative | den Fisch | die Fische |
Example Sentences with Fisch
Der frische Fisch liegt auf dem Eis.
(The fresh fish lies on the ice.) — Nominative
Wir braten den Fisch in der Pfanne.
(We are frying the fish in the pan.) — Accusative
Zu dem Fisch servieren wir einen trockenen Weißwein.
(We are serving a dry white wine with the fish.) — Dative
Der Geruch des Fisches lockt die Katze an.
(The smell of the fish attracts the cat.) — Genitive
Die kleinen Fische schwimmen im Aquarium.
(The small fish swim in the aquarium.) — Nominative Plural
Er gibt den Fischen im Teich etwas Futter.
(He gives the fish in the pond some food.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): fischen (to fish — verb), der Fischer (fisherman), das Fischchen (little fish — diminutive)
Common compounds (Komposita): das Fischstäbchen (fish finger/stick), der Fischmarkt (fish market), die Fischsuppe (fish soup), das Fischgericht (fish dish), der Fischkutter (fishing boat)
Common Mistake with Fisch
❌ Common mistake: Die Fischen schwimmen im Fluss.
✅ Correct: Die Fische schwimmen im Fluss.
💡 Why: The standard plural of der Fisch is simply die Fische. You only add an "-n" to the plural when you are using the dative case (den Fischen). Using "die Fischen" as the subject (nominative) of a sentence is grammatically incorrect.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Der Preis ___ ist auf dem Markt gestiegen.
- A) des Fisches
- B) dem Fisch
- C) den Fisch
Check Answer
"Der Preis des Fisches" — the genitive case shows possession or relation (the price of what?). Masculine genitive = des + noun adds -es: des Fisches.
2. Er fängt ___ mit einem großen Netz.
- A) der Fisch
- B) den Fisch
- C) dem Fisch
Check Answer
"Fangen" (to catch) takes a direct object in the accusative case. Masculine accusative = den: den Fisch.
3. Ein klein___ Fisch schwimmt schnell vorbei.
- A) -er
- B) -e
- C) -en
Check Answer
After the indefinite article ein in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending takes over the gender signal: ein kleiner Fisch.
More Food Nouns & Vocabulary
- das Fleisch — the meat
- die Kartoffel — the potato
- die Nudel — the noodle / pasta
- der Reis — the rice
- das Brot — the bread
- der Käse — the cheese
- die Butter — the butter
- die Milch — the milk
- das Ei — the egg
- der Apfel — the apple
- die Banane — the banana
- die Orange — the orange
For more themed vocabulary lists, explore the Vocabulary overview list, practice with the food and drinks vocabulary, or browse the full grammar overview to master your German cases and vocabulary.
Is it der, die, or das? Practice makes perfect.
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Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fisch masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Fisch is masculine — the correct article is der. This gender also applies to its compound nouns where Fisch is the final word, such as der Raubfisch (predatory fish) or der Süßwasserfisch (freshwater fish).
What is the plural of Fisch in German?
The plural is die Fische. You form it by adding an "-e" to the singular noun. Remember to add an extra "-n" only in the dative plural case (den Fischen).
How do you say fish market in German?
The German word for fish market is der Fischmarkt. It is a masculine compound noun combining Fisch and Markt.
