Vertrag is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Verträge (with Umlaut). In English, Vertrag means contract or agreement.Der Vertrag is one of the most important words in business German vocabulary. It's typically learned at A2–B1 level and used constantly — from signing an Arbeitsvertrag to closing a deal after a Verhandlung. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: There is no clear ending-based gender rule for Vertrag — the article must be memorized. However, many nouns derived from verb stems without a suffix are masculine in German (der Vertrag from vertragen, der Verkauf from verkaufen, der Umsatz from umsetzen). See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Vertrag — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Vertrag | die Verträge |
| Genitive | des Vertrags / des Vertrages | der Verträge |
| Dative | dem Vertrag | den Verträgen |
| Accusative | den Vertrag | die Verträge |
Example Sentences with Vertrag
Der Vertrag läuft bis Ende des Jahres.
(The contract runs until the end of the year.) — Nominative
Beide Parteien haben den Vertrag unterschrieben.
(Both parties signed the contract.) — Accusative
Im Vertrag stehen alle wichtigen Bedingungen.
(All important terms are stated in the contract.) — Dative
Die Frist des Vertrags beträgt zwölf Monate.
(The term of the contract is twelve months.) — Genitive
Die Verträge werden nächste Woche verschickt.
(The contracts will be sent next week.) — Nominative Plural
In den Verträgen sind unterschiedliche Konditionen festgelegt.
(Different terms are specified in the contracts.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): vertraglich (contractual — adjective)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract), der Mietvertrag (rental contract), der Kaufvertrag (purchase contract), die Vertragslaufzeit (contract duration)
Common Mistake with Vertrag
❌ Common mistake: Die Vertrage sind gültig.
✅ Correct: Die Verträge sind gültig.
💡 Why: The plural of Vertrag requires an Umlaut: Verträge — not "Vertrage." This Umlaut pattern applies to many masculine nouns: der Vertrag → die Verträge, der Umsatz → die Umsätze, der Antrag → die Anträge. Forgetting the Umlaut is a common spelling mistake, even among intermediate learners.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Der Kunde hat ___ Vertrag noch nicht zurückgeschickt.
- A) der Vertrag
- B) dem Vertrag
- C) den Vertrag
Check Answer
"Zurückschicken" takes an accusative object (what hasn't he sent back?). Masculine accusative = den: den Vertrag.
2. Die Bedingungen ___ Vertrags sind klar formuliert.
- A) dem Vertrag
- B) den Vertrag
- C) des Vertrags
Check Answer
"Die Bedingungen des Vertrags" — the genitive shows possession (the terms of what?). Masculine genitive = des + noun adds -s: des Vertrags.
3. Ein befristet___ Vertrag endet automatisch.
- A) -er
- B) -en
- C) -es
Check Answer
After the indefinite article ein in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending is -er: ein befristeter Vertrag. 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 Work & Business Nouns
- die Verhandlung — the negotiation
- die Vereinbarung — the agreement
- der Verkauf — the sale
- der Umsatz — the revenue
- das Ziel — the goal
- die Rechnung — the invoice
- der Kunde — the customer
- der Chef — the boss
For more work-related vocabulary, explore the Business German vocabulary list 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 Vertrag masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Vertrag is masculine — the correct article is der. Many German nouns derived from verb stems without a suffix are masculine (der Vertrag, der Verkauf, der Umsatz). Since this isn't a universal rule, it's best to learn the article together with the noun.
What is the plural of Vertrag?
The plural is die Verträge — with an Umlaut (a → ä) and an -e ending. Don't forget the Umlaut — "Vertrage" without the dots is incorrect. In the dative plural, add -n: den Verträgen.
How do you say contract in German?
The German word for contract is der Vertrag. It's one of the most common words in business German. You'll see it in many compounds: der Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract), der Mietvertrag (rental contract), der Kaufvertrag (purchase contract). The related adjective vertraglich means "contractual" — as in vertraglich festgelegt (contractually agreed).
What is the difference between Vertrag and Vereinbarung?
Der Vertrag is a contract — a legally binding document with specific terms and conditions. Die Vereinbarung is a general agreement or arrangement — it can be formal or informal, written or verbal. Every Vertrag is a Vereinbarung, but not every Vereinbarung is a Vertrag. For example, a verbal agreement between Kollegen is a Vereinbarung, while an Arbeitsvertrag is a Vertrag.
