"Opa" is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Opas. In English, Opa means "grandpa". The formal version is der Großvater (grandfather).
Gender rule: Male persons are generally masculine in German. The -s plural is unusual for native German words and comes from the informal, short nature of "Opa" — similar to das Baby → die Babys. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
"Der Opa" is one of the first family vocabulary words children learn in German — the informal counterpart to der Großvater (grandfather). It's essential A1 vocabulary that you'll hear constantly in everyday conversations about family. The counterpart is die Oma (grandma). Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Opa — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Opa | die Opas |
| Genitive | des Opas | der Opas |
| Dative | dem Opa | den Opas |
| Accusative | den Opa | die Opas |
Example Sentences with Opa
Der Opa erzählt immer die besten Geschichten.
(Grandpa always tells the best stories.) — Nominative
Wir besuchen den Opa am Sonntag.
(We're visiting grandpa on Sunday.) — Accusative
Die Kinder schenken dem Opa eine Zeichnung.
(The children give grandpa a drawing.) — Dative
Das Auto des Opas steht in der Garage.
(Grandpa's car is in the garage.) — Genitive
Die Opas sitzen auf der Bank im Park.
(The grandpas are sitting on the bench in the park.) — Nominative Plural
Die Enkel haben den Opas zum Vatertag gratuliert.
(The grandchildren congratulated the grandpas on Father's Day.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): die Oma (grandma), der Großvater (grandfather — formal), die Großmutter (grandmother — formal), die Großeltern (grandparents — plural only), der Vater (father), der Enkel (grandson), die Enkelin (granddaughter)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Uropa (great-grandpa)
Common Mistake with Opa
❌ Common mistake: Das Auto des Opa ist neu.
✅ Correct: Das Auto des Opas ist neu.
💡 Why: In the genitive singular, masculine nouns must add -s (or -es): des Opas, not "des Opa." This applies even to short, informal words like Opa. Compare: des Vaters, des Mannes, des Sohnes.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Kinder vermissen ___ Opa sehr.
- A) der Opa
- B) den Opa
- C) dem Opa
Check Answer
"Vermissen" takes an accusative object (whom?). Masculine accusative = den: den Opa.
2. Wir schenken ___ Opa eine neue Uhr.
- A) den Opa
- B) der Opa
- C) dem Opa
Check Answer
"Schenken" requires a dative object (to whom?). Masculine dative = dem: dem Opa.
3. Er ist ein lustig___ Opa.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After an indefinite article in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending is -er: ein lustiger Opa. This is because "ein" doesn't show the masculine gender, so the adjective must do it with -er.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and common informal words.
More People & Family Nouns
- die Großmutter — the grandmother
- der Vater — the father
- die Mutter — the mother
- der Onkel — the uncle
- die Tante — the aunt
- das Kind — the child
- der Bruder — the brother
- die Familie — the family
For more A1 vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Opa? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and common informal words. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Opa masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Opa is masculine — the correct article is der. Male persons are generally masculine in German. The formal version is der Großvater (grandfather), which is also masculine. See all gender rules in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Opa?
The plural is die Opas — with an -s. This -s plural is unusual for native German words but common for short, informal words like Opa/Oma and for loanwords like Baby → Babys. The formal version has a different plural: der Großvater → die Großväter (Umlaut, no -s).
What is the difference between Opa and Großvater?
Der Opa is informal — similar to "grandpa" or "gramps" in English. Der Großvater is the standard, formal word for "grandfather," used in documents, official contexts, and when talking about someone else's grandfather. Children almost always say "Opa" in everyday conversation. Both are masculine.
How do you say great-grandpa in German?
"Great-grandpa" is der Uropa — simply add the Ur- prefix. The formal version is der Urgroßvater (great-grandfather). The Ur- prefix adds one generation: Opa (grandpa) → Uropa (great-grandpa). The female equivalents are die Oma (grandma) → die Uroma (great-grandma).
