"Kaninchen" is neuter in German — the correct article is das. The plural is die Kaninchen — the form does not change. In English, Kaninchen means "rabbit".
Gender rule: All nouns ending in -chen are neuter in German — without exception. The suffix -chen is a diminutive that always overrides the natural gender of the base word. This is the same rule that makes das Mädchen neuter despite referring to a girl. See all patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German articles.
Das Kaninchen is A1 vocabulary and a popular noun for beginners — especially because its gender is easy to remember thanks to the -chen rule. It also has a notable feature: the plural is identical to the singular (die Kaninchen), which is typical for all -chen nouns. Understanding how cases work with neuter nouns like das Kaninchen is an important step at A1–A2 level. Below you'll find the full declension table, example sentences, a common mistake to avoid, and a short quiz.
Kaninchen — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Kaninchen | die Kaninchen |
| Genitive | des Kaninchens | der Kaninchen |
| Dative | dem Kaninchen | den Kaninchen |
| Accusative | das Kaninchen | die Kaninchen |
Example Sentences with Kaninchen
Das Kaninchen sitzt ruhig im Gras und knabbert an einer Karotte.
(The rabbit is sitting quietly in the grass and nibbling on a carrot.) — Nominative
Das Kind streichelt das Kaninchen sehr sanft.
(The child strokes the rabbit very gently.) — Accusative
Sie gibt dem Kaninchen jeden Morgen frisches Gemüse.
(She gives the rabbit fresh vegetables every morning.) — Dative
Das Fell des Kaninchens ist weich und sehr dicht.
(The rabbit's fur is soft and very thick.) — Genitive
Die Kaninchen laufen frei durch den Garten.
(The rabbits run freely through the garden.) — Nominative Plural
Der Tierarzt untersucht die Zähne der Kaninchen.
(The vet examines the rabbits' teeth.) — Genitive Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): The word family of Kaninchen is very thin in modern German — the noun stands largely on its own. No established derivatives with a shared root exist in standard German beyond the word itself.
Common compounds (Komposita): der Kaninchenstall (rabbit hutch), das Kaninchenfutter (rabbit food), das Kaninchengehege (rabbit enclosure), das Kaninchenfell (rabbit fur), die Kaninchenhaltung (rabbit keeping)
Common Mistake with Kaninchen
❌ Common mistake: Wir haben zwei Kaninchens zu Hause.
✅ Correct: Wir haben zwei Kaninchen zu Hause.
💡 Why: The plural of das Kaninchen is die Kaninchen — the form does not change at all. Adding -s is a common reflex for learners, especially those whose native language uses -s for plurals. This zero-plural pattern applies to all nouns ending in -chen in German — so once you know the rule, it covers many words at once. Compare: das Mädchen → die Mädchen, das Häschen → die Häschen.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Der Junge füttert ___ Kaninchen mit frischem Salat.
- A) der Kaninchen
- B) das Kaninchen
- C) den Kaninchen
Check Answer
"Füttern" (to feed) takes the accusative. For neuter nouns, the accusative definite article is das — the same as the nominative. This is different from masculine nouns, where the article changes from der to den in the accusative. Option C) den is the masculine accusative — wrong gender here.
2. Das Mädchen liegt neben ___ Kaninchen auf der Wiese.
- A) das Kaninchen
- B) dem Kaninchen
- C) den Kaninchen
Check Answer
"Neben" describes a location here (lying next to), so it requires the dative. For neuter nouns, the dative article is dem: dem Kaninchen. Option A) das is nominative/accusative — wrong case here.
3. Das ist ein sehr klein___ Kaninchen.
- A) -er
- B) -e
- C) -es
Check Answer
After an indefinite article in the nominative with a neuter noun, the adjective ending is -es: ein kleines Kaninchen. Because ein doesn't show the neuter gender, the adjective must carry that signal. Compare: masculine ein kleiner Bär (-er), feminine eine kleine Maus (-e).
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 Animal Nouns
- der Hund — the dog
- die Katze — the cat
- das Pferd — the horse
- die Maus — the mouse
- der Elefant — the elephant
- der Löwe — the lion
- der Affe — the monkey
- der Bär — the bear
For more animal words, explore the full animal vocabulary list.
Is it der, die, or das Kaninchen? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including animal vocabulary and much more. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaninchen masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Kaninchen is neuter — the correct article is das. The gender is determined by the -chen suffix: all nouns ending in -chen are neuter in German without exception, regardless of what they refer to. This is the same rule that makes das Mädchen neuter. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Kaninchen?
The plural is die Kaninchen — the noun does not change at all. This zero-plural is the standard pattern for all nouns ending in -chen. Do not add -s or any other ending: zwei Kaninchen (not zwei Kaninchens). In the dative plural, no extra -n is added either: den Kaninchen.
What is the difference between Kaninchen and Hase?
Das Kaninchen (rabbit) and der Hase (hare) are two different animals, though they are often confused in everyday German. Rabbits (Kaninchen) are smaller, live in burrows, and are commonly kept as pets. Hares (Hasen) are larger, live above ground, and are wild animals. In spoken German, many people use Hase informally for both — but on a grammar site, and in formal contexts, the distinction matters.
Why is Kaninchen neuter even though it refers to a living animal?
In German, grammatical gender and biological sex are completely separate. The -chen suffix always makes a noun neuter — it overrides any natural gender. The same applies to das Häschen (little hare), das Kätzchen (kitten), and das Mädchen (girl). This is one of the most reliable gender rules in German: if a noun ends in -chen, it is always das. See how all three articles work at the Articles Chart.
