Pullover is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Pullover. In English, Pullover translates to sweater, jumper, or pullover.Der Pullover is a very common word in German clothing vocabulary, typically learned right at the beginning (A1 level). You will use it frequently when talking about outfits for autumn and winter. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Many German nouns ending in -er are masculine (der Pullover, der Computer, der Koffer). This is a very helpful pattern to remember. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Pullover — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Pullover | die Pullover |
| Genitive | des Pullovers | der Pullover |
| Dative | dem Pullover | den Pullovern |
| Accusative | den Pullover | die Pullover |
Example Sentences with Pullover
Der dicke Pullover ist sehr bequem.
(The thick sweater is very comfortable.) — Nominative
Sie wäscht den neuen Pullover mit der Hand.
(She washes the new sweater by hand.) — Accusative
Er trägt ein Hemd unter dem Pullover.
(He is wearing a shirt under the sweater.) — Dative
Der Ausschnitt des Pullovers ist zu weit.
(The neckline of the sweater is too wide.) — Genitive
Die Pullover liegen gefaltet im Schrank.
(The sweaters are lying folded in the closet.) — Nominative Plural
Mit den warmen Pullovern sind wir gut auf den Winter vorbereitet.
(With the warm sweaters, we are well prepared for winter.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): Since Pullover is a loanword from English, it doesn't have a traditional German word family. However, a very common derivative is der Pulli (the short, colloquial form for sweater/hoodie).
Common compounds (Komposita): der Wollpullover (wool sweater), der Kapuzenpullover (hoodie), der Strickpullover (knit sweater), der Rollkragenpullover (turtleneck sweater)
Common Mistake with Pullover
❌ Common mistake: Die Pullovers sind sehr warm.
✅ Correct: Die Pullover sind sehr warm.
💡 Why: Many English loanwords take an "-s" in the German plural (like die Laptops or die Kameras). However, Pullover is an exception! The plural form is exactly the same as the singular: die Pullover. Adding an "-s" to the plural is a very common mistake among native English speakers.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Farbe ___ gefällt mir nicht.
- A) dem Pullover
- B) den Pullover
- C) des Pullovers
Check Answer
"Die Farbe des Pullovers" — the genitive shows possession (the color of what?). Masculine genitive = des + noun adds -s: des Pullovers.
2. Er zieht ___ an, bevor er rausgeht.
- A) den Pullover
- B) der Pullover
- C) dem Pullover
Check Answer
"Anziehen" takes an accusative object (what is he putting on?). Masculine accusative = den: den Pullover.
3. Der warm___ Pullover ist aus reiner Schurwolle.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After the definite article der in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending is -e: der warme Pullover.
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
- der Mantel — the coat
- die Jacke — the jacket
- die Hose — the pants
- das Kleid — the dress
- der Hut — the hat
- die Frau — the woman
For more themed words, explore the Vocabulary overview list, check out the full clothing vocabulary, or browse the 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 Pullover masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Pullover is masculine — the correct article is der. Even though it is a loanword from English, it ends in -er, which is a strong indicator for masculine nouns in German (like der Computer or der Koffer).
What is the plural of Pullover?
The plural is die Pullover. Unlike many English loanwords, it does not take an "-s" at the end. The singular and plural forms are identical. In the dative plural, you add an "-n": den Pullovern.
What is the difference between Pullover and Pulli?
Der Pullover is the standard, correct word for a sweater or jumper. Der Pulli is simply the shortened, colloquial form of the word. Both are masculine and mean the exact same thing, but Pulli is used very frequently in casual, spoken German.
