Rock is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Röcke. In English, Rock means skirt.Der Rock is a fundamental word in German clothing vocabulary, typically introduced at the A1 level. You will use it frequently when discussing fashion, outfits, or shopping. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: There is no absolute ending-based rule for Rock — the article must be memorized. However, many short, monosyllabic nouns in German are masculine. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Rock — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Rock | die Röcke |
| Genitive | des Rocks / des Rockes | der Röcke |
| Dative | dem Rock | den Röcken |
| Accusative | den Rock | die Röcke |
Example Sentences with Rock
Der blaue Rock ist mir leider zu eng.
(The blue skirt is unfortunately too tight for me.) — Nominative
Sie kauft den langen Rock für den Sommerurlaub.
(She is buying the long skirt for the summer vacation.) — Accusative
Die weiße Bluse passt perfekt zu dem Rock.
(The white blouse goes perfectly with the skirt.) — Dative
Der fließende Stoff des Rockes fühlt sich sehr angenehm an.
(The flowing fabric of the skirt feels very comfortable.) — Genitive
Die neuen Röcke hängen bereits im Schaufenster.
(The new skirts are already hanging in the shop window.) — Nominative Plural
In den weiten Röcken kann man besonders gut tanzen.
(You can dance especially well in the wide skirts.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): das Röckchen (little skirt — diminutive)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Minirock (miniskirt), der Sommerrock (summer skirt), der Faltenrock (pleated skirt), der Bleistiftrock (pencil skirt)
Common Mistake with Rock
❌ Common mistake: Die Rocke sind im Angebot.
✅ Correct: Die Röcke sind im Angebot.
💡 Why: The plural of Rock requires an Umlaut: Röcke. Many short, masculine nouns follow this pattern of adding an Umlaut plus "-e" in the plural (der Rock → die Röcke, der Hut → die Hüte, der Baum → die Bäume). Forgetting the Umlaut is a very common spelling mistake.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Diese Schuhe passen sehr gut zu ___.
- A) der Rock
- B) dem Rock
- C) den Rock
Check Answer
The preposition zu always takes the dative. Masculine dative = dem: zu dem Rock.
2. ___ ist in der Waschmaschine.
- A) Der Rock
- B) Den Rock
- C) Des Rocks
Check Answer
The sentence needs a subject (what is in the washing machine?). The subject is always in the nominative case. Masculine nominative = der: Der Rock.
3. Sie trägt den rot___ Rock sehr oft auf der Arbeit.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After the definite article den in the accusative masculine, the adjective ending is -en: den roten Rock.
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
- das Kleid — the dress
- die Hose — the pants
- der Pullover — the sweater
- das Hemd — the shirt
- der Mantel — the coat
- 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 Rock masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Rock is masculine — the correct article is der. Many short, monosyllabic nouns in German are masculine, but this is not a strict rule. The same gender applies to all Rock-compounds: der Minirock, der Sommerrock, der Faltenrock.
What is the plural of Rock?
The plural is die Röcke. Like many masculine nouns, the plural is formed by adding an Umlaut (o → ö) and the ending -e. A common mistake is saying "die Rocke" without the Umlaut. In the dative plural, add an extra -n: den Röcken.
What is the difference between Rock and Kleid?
Der Rock is a skirt, meaning it is a separate piece of clothing worn only on the lower half of the body. Das Kleid is a dress, which is a single garment that covers both the upper body and the legs. Note their different genders: der Rock (masculine) vs. das Kleid (neuter).
