"Herz" is neuter in German — the correct article is das. The plural is die Herzen. In English, Herz means "heart".
Gender rule: das Herz is neuter. Body part nouns in German have mixed genders — der Arm, die Hand, das Herz — so there is no reliable ending-based rule here. Note also that das Herz has a special declension: the genitive singular is des Herzens, not des Herzes. The safest approach is always to learn every noun with its article and its declension from the start. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the german articles.
Das Herz is an A1–A2 vocabulary word that goes far beyond anatomy — it appears constantly in everyday German, from medical contexts to expressions of emotion and love. It is also one of the most important examples of a special declension pattern in German: unlike most neuter nouns, das Herz adds -ens in the genitive singular. Understanding how cases work with this noun is essential for avoiding common errors. This article covers the full declension, example sentences, word family, a common mistake, and a short quiz. For more body part nouns, also see der Arm, der Finger, and das Gesicht.
Herz — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Herz | die Herzen |
| Genitive | des Herzens | der Herzen |
| Dative | dem Herzen | den Herzen |
| Accusative | das Herz | die Herzen |
Example Sentences with Herz
Sein Herz schlägt schnell, als er die Ergebnisse liest.
(His heart beats fast as he reads the results.) — Nominative
Sie zeichnet das Herz sorgfältig auf das Papier.
(She carefully draws the heart on the paper.) — Accusative
Dem Herzen tut es gut, Zeit in der Natur zu verbringen.
(It is good for the heart to spend time in nature.) — Dative
Das Schlagen des Herzens war laut und unregelmäßig.
(The beating of the heart was loud and irregular.) — Genitive
Die Herzen der Zuschauer schlugen höher, als das Tor fiel.
(The hearts of the spectators raced as the goal was scored.) — Nominative Plural
In den Herzen der Kinder blieb die Melodie noch lange lebendig.
(The melody stayed alive in the hearts of the children for a long time.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie):
- das Herzchen — little heart (diminutive)
- herzlich — warm, cordial (adjective)
Common compounds (Komposita):
- der Herzschlag — heartbeat
- das Herzversagen — heart failure
- die Herzkrankheit — heart disease
- der Herzinfarkt — heart attack
Common Mistake with Herz
❌ Common mistake: Das Schlagen des Herzen war unregelmäßig.
✅ Correct: Das Schlagen des Herzens war unregelmäßig.
💡 Why: The genitive singular of das Herz is des Herzens — not des Herzen and not des Herzes. This special -ens ending is unique to this noun and does not follow the standard neuter genitive pattern. It is sometimes loosely compared to the N-Deklination, but das Herz is best treated as a special form and memorised individually.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Das Kind malt ___ Herz auf das Papier.
- A) dem
- B) des
- C) das
Check Answer
The verb malen (to draw / to paint) takes a direct object — what does the child draw? A heart. Direct objects use the accusative case. For neuter nouns, the accusative article is das — identical to the nominative. Option A) dem is dative. Option B) des is genitive.
2. Das Schlagen ___ Herzens war deutlich zu hören.
- A) der
- B) dem
- C) des
Check Answer
"Das Schlagen ___ Herzens" — whose beating? The heart's. This is a possession relationship expressed with the genitive case. For neuter nouns the genitive article is des. Note that das Herz has a special genitive ending -ens: des Herzens — not des Herzes. Option A) der is the genitive article for feminine nouns. Option B) dem is dative.
3. Das Schlagen des krank___ Herzens war deutlich zu hören.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After a definite article in the genitive, the adjective ending is always -en — for all three genders: des kranken Herzens. The definite article des already carries the genitive signal, so the adjective takes the weak ending -en. Option A) -e is used after a definite article in nominative/accusative neuter. Option B) -er is the strong ending for masculine nominative without an article.
Want to drill more nouns like this? The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to practice — pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
More Body Part Nouns
- der Arm — the arm
- der Bauch — the belly / stomach
- das Bein — the leg
- der Finger — the finger
- das Gesicht — the face
- der Kopf — the head
- die Hand — the hand
For the full list with articles and plurals, see the Body Parts Vocabulary page. You can also browse more topic-based word lists in the German Vocabulary Overview and test yourself with the Vocabulary Quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Herz? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — from everyday vocabulary to family, food, and much more. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Herz masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Herz is neuter — the correct article is das. Body part nouns in German have mixed genders, so there is no reliable rule to predict them. What makes das Herz particularly important to learn carefully is its special declension — especially the genitive singular des Herzens. For a full overview of gender patterns, see the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Herz in German?
The plural is die Herzen — add -en. The dative plural is also den Herzen — no additional -n is needed because the plural already ends in -en.
Why is the genitive of das Herz "des Herzens" and not "des Herzes"?
Das Herz has a special declension that does not follow the standard neuter pattern. In the genitive singular, it adds -ens: des Herzens. In the dative singular, it adds -en: dem Herzen. This pattern is sometimes loosely compared to the N-Deklination, but das Herz is unique — true N-Deklination nouns are masculine. It is best treated as a special case and memorised individually.
How is Herz used figuratively in German?
Das Herz is used extensively in figurative and emotional contexts in German — just as in English. Common expressions include von Herzen (from the heart / sincerely), schweren Herzens (with a heavy heart), and jemandem das Herz brechen (to break someone's heart). The adjective herzlich (warm, cordial) comes from the same root and is widely used in greetings such as herzlichen Glückwunsch (congratulations).
