"Kunde" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Kunden. In English, Kunde means "customer" or "client" (male). The female form is die Kundin (plural: die Kundinnen)."Der Kunde" is one of the most important nouns in business German vocabulary and is typically learned at A2–B1 level. Just like der Kollege, it follows the N-Deklination — a tricky declension pattern that many learners struggle with. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Male persons are always masculine in German. But careful: "Kunde" follows the N-Deklination, meaning it adds -n in every case except the nominative singular. See all gender patterns in the German Article Rules.
Kunde — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Kunde | die Kunden |
| Genitive | des Kunden | der Kunden |
| Dative | dem Kunden | den Kunden |
| Accusative | den Kunden | die Kunden |
Example Sentences with Kunde
Der Kunde möchte eine Bestellung aufgeben.
(The customer would like to place an order.) — Nominative
Bitte rufen Sie den Kunden zurück.
(Please call the customer back.) — Accusative
Der Berater hat dem Kunden ein Angebot geschickt.
(The advisor sent the customer an offer.) — Dative
Die Telefonnummer des Kunden steht in der Akte.
(The customer's phone number is in the file.) — Genitive
Die Kunden warten schon seit zehn Minuten.
(The customers have been waiting for ten minutes.) — Nominative Plural
Wir danken den Kunden für ihr Vertrauen.
(We thank the customers for their trust.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): die Kundin (female customer), die Kundschaft (clientele/customers collectively)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Stammkunde (regular customer), der Neukunde (new customer), der Kundendienst (customer service), die Kundenberatung (customer consulting), der Kundenservice (customer service)
Common Mistake with Kunde
❌ Common mistake: Die Adresse des Kundes ist falsch.
✅ Correct: Die Adresse des Kunden ist falsch.
💡 Why: "Kunde" follows the N-Deklination. In the genitive, the correct form is des Kunden — not "des Kundes." Unlike regular masculine nouns, weak nouns never add -s or -es in the genitive. They always add -n (or -en).
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Verkäuferin zeigt ___ Kunde___ das neue Produkt.
- A) dem Kunde
- B) den Kunden
- C) dem Kunden
Check Answer
"Zeigen" takes a dative object for the person (whom do you show something to?). Masculine dative = dem, and because "Kunde" follows the N-Deklination, the noun adds -n: dem Kunden.
2. Hast du ___ Kunde___ schon informiert?
- A) der Kunde
- B) dem Kunden
- C) den Kunden
Check Answer
"Informieren" takes an accusative object (whom?). Masculine accusative = den, and the N-Deklination adds -n: den Kunden.
3. Wir haben den zufrieden___ Kunden verabschiedet.
- A) -e
- B) -en
- C) -er
Check Answer
After the definite article den in the accusative masculine, the adjective ending is always -en: den zufriedenen Kunden.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including common N-Deklination words and everyday vocabulary.
More Work & People Nouns
- der Kollege — the colleague
- der Chef — the boss
- der Mitarbeiter — the employee
- die Chefin — the boss (female)
- der Praktikant — the intern
- das Büro — the office
- die Firma — the company
- der Beruf — the profession
For more work-related vocabulary, explore the Business German vocabulary list or browse the full grammar overview.
Is it der, die, or das Kunde? 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 Kunde masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Kunde is masculine — the correct article is der. It refers specifically to a male customer or client. The female form is die Kundin (plural: die Kundinnen). In modern German, you'll often see the inclusive form "Kund*innen" or "Kund:innen" in written communication.
What is the plural of Kunde?
The plural is die Kunden. This form is identical to the accusative, dative, and genitive singular — only the article tells you whether it's singular or plural. Context usually makes it clear.
Why does Kunde change to Kunden in the accusative?
Because "Kunde" follows the N-Deklination (weak declension). Masculine nouns ending in -e that refer to people almost always follow this pattern — they add -n in every case except the nominative. Other examples: der Kollege (colleague), der Junge (boy), der Neffe (nephew), der Experte (expert).
What is the difference between Kunde and Käufer?
Der Kunde means "customer" or "client" — someone who has an ongoing relationship with a business. Der Käufer means "buyer" — someone who makes a single purchase. A Kunde often buys regularly, while a Käufer may only buy once. In everyday German, both words are common, but "Kunde" is used far more often in business contexts.
