Mantel is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Mäntel (with Umlaut). In English, Mantel means coat or overcoat.Der Mantel is an essential piece of German clothing vocabulary, usually learned at the A1 level. You will need this word frequently during the colder months in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz to test your knowledge.
Gender rule: Nouns ending in -el are very often masculine in German (der Mantel, der Schlüssel, der Löffel). This is a strong, though not absolute, pattern. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Mantel — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Mantel | die Mäntel |
| Genitive | des Mantels | der Mäntel |
| Dative | dem Mantel | den Mänteln |
| Accusative | den Mantel | die Mäntel |
Example Sentences with Mantel
Der graue Mantel hängt an der Garderobe.
(The gray coat is hanging on the coat rack.) — Nominative
Er zieht den Mantel an, weil es draußen schneit.
(He puts the coat on because it is snowing outside.) — Accusative
Die Knöpfe an dem Mantel sind sehr elegant.
(The buttons on the coat are very elegant.) — Dative
Die Farbe des Mantels gefällt mir besonders gut.
(I particularly like the color of the coat.) — Genitive
Die Mäntel sind diese Woche im Angebot.
(The coats are on sale this week.) — Nominative Plural
In den dicken Mänteln ist uns nicht kalt.
(We are not cold in the thick coats.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): das Mäntelchen (little coat — diminutive)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Wintermantel (winter coat), der Regenmantel (raincoat), der Bademantel (bathrobe), der Wollmantel (wool coat)
Common Mistake with Mantel
❌ Common mistake: Die Mantel sind sehr warm.
✅ Correct: Die Mäntel sind sehr warm.
💡 Why: The plural of Mantel requires an Umlaut: Mäntel. Many learners forget to change the vowel because the word doesn't take an ending (like -e or -en) in the plural. Always remember the dots: der Mantel → die Mäntel, der Apfel → die Äpfel.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Vergiss nicht, ___ mitzunehmen!
- A) den Mantel
- B) der Mantel
- C) dem Mantel
Check Answer
"Mitnehmen" takes an accusative object (what should you not forget to take?). Masculine accusative = den: den Mantel.
2. Der Stoff ___ fühlt sich sehr weich an.
- A) dem Mantel
- B) den Mantel
- C) des Mantels
Check Answer
"Der Stoff des Mantels" — the genitive shows possession (the fabric of what?). Masculine genitive = des + noun adds -s: des Mantels.
3. Ein lang___ Mantel hält im Winter schön warm.
- A) -er
- B) -en
- C) -es
Check Answer
After the indefinite article ein in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending is -er: ein langer Mantel. The adjective takes over the gender signal that ein doesn't show.
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
- die Jacke — the jacket
- der Anzug — the suit
- das Kleid — the dress
- das Hemd — the shirt
- die Hose — the pants
- der Hut — the hat
- die Brille — the glasses
For more themed words, explore the Vocabulary overview list, check out the German clothing vocabulary, or browse the full grammar overview.
Is it der, die, or das? 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 Mantel masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Mantel is masculine — the correct article is der. This follows a strong pattern in German where many nouns ending in -el are masculine (der Mantel, der Schlüssel, der Vogel). The same gender applies to all Mantel-compounds: der Wintermantel, der Regenmantel, der Bademantel.
What is the plural of Mantel?
The plural is die Mäntel. It requires an Umlaut (a → ä) but does not add an extra ending like -e or -en. A common mistake is saying "die Mantel", but this is incorrect. In the dative plural, add an -n: den Mänteln.
How do you say coat in German?
The German word for coat is der Mantel. It usually refers to a longer piece of outerwear. German uses compounds to specify the type of coat: der Wintermantel (winter coat), der Regenmantel (raincoat), and der Bademantel (bathrobe).
What is the difference between Mantel and Jacke?
Der Mantel is a coat. It is typically longer, reaching down to the thighs, knees, or even further. Die Jacke is a jacket, which is usually shorter and ends around the hips or waist. Note their different genders: der Mantel (masculine) vs. die Jacke (feminine).
