Badehose is feminine in German — the correct article is die. The plural is die Badehosen. In English, Badehose means swim trunks or swimming shorts.Die Badehose is a useful word in German clothing vocabulary. It's typically learned around A2–B1 level and comes up whenever you talk about swimming, holidays, or packing for a trip. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Compound nouns always take the gender of their last component. Since die Hose is feminine, die Badehose is also feminine. This rule applies to all German compounds — the last word determines the gender. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Badehose — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Badehose | die Badehosen |
| Genitive | der Badehose | der Badehosen |
| Dative | der Badehose | den Badehosen |
| Accusative | die Badehose | die Badehosen |
Example Sentences with Badehose
Die Badehose liegt noch auf dem Bett.
(The swim trunks are still on the bed.) — Nominative
Der Junge hat die Badehose im Schwimmbad vergessen.
(The boy forgot his swim trunks at the pool.) — Accusative
Mit dieser Badehose kannst du nicht ins Schwimmbad gehen.
(You can't go to the pool in those swim trunks.) — Dative
Die Farbe der Badehose passt gut zum Handtuch.
(The color of the swim trunks matches the towel well.) — Genitive
Die Badehosen der Kinder trocknen auf dem Balkon.
(The kids' swim trunks are drying on the balcony.) — Nominative Plural
In den neuen Badehosen fühlen sich die Jungs wohl.
(The boys feel comfortable in their new swim trunks.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): baden (to bathe/swim — verb), das Bad (the bath/bathroom)
Components: Badehose is a compound of Bad(e)- (bathing) + die Hose (pants). The same pattern applies to many German clothing and activity compounds: der Badeanzug (swimsuit), der Bademantel (bathrobe), die Badekappe (swimming cap).
Common Mistake with Badehose
❌ Common mistake: Die Badehoses sind zu klein.
✅ Correct: Die Badehosen sind zu klein.
💡 Why: English speakers sometimes add an English -s to form the plural. In German, the plural of Badehose is Badehosen — with -n, not "-s." Most feminine nouns ending in -e form their plural by adding -n: die Hose → die Hosen, die Jacke → die Jacken, die Badehose → die Badehosen.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Die Farbe ___ Badehose gefällt mir nicht.
- A) die Badehose
- B) dem Badehose
- C) der Badehose
Check Answer
"Die Farbe der Badehose" — the genitive shows possession (the color of what?). Feminine genitive = der: der Badehose.
2. Hast du ___ Badehose eingepackt?
- A) die Badehose
- B) der Badehose
- C) dem Badehose
Check Answer
"Einpacken" takes an accusative object (what did you pack?). Feminine accusative = die: die Badehose.
3. Er hat die neu___ Badehose angezogen.
- A) -en
- B) -e
- C) -er
Check Answer
After the definite article die in the accusative feminine, the adjective ending is -e: die neue Badehose.
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
- der Anzug — the suit
- das Hemd — the shirt
- die Hose — the pants
- die Jacke — the jacket
- der Mantel — the coat
- der Schuh — the shoe
- das Kleid — the dress
For more clothing words, check out the German clothing 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 Badehose masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Badehose is feminine — the correct article is die. This is because compound nouns in German always take the gender of their last component. Since die Hose is feminine, die Badehose is also feminine. The same rule applies to all compounds: der Badeanzug is masculine because der Anzug is masculine.
What is the plural of Badehose?
The plural is die Badehosen. Like most feminine nouns ending in -e, the plural is formed by adding -n. Don't add an English "-s" — "Badehoses" is not a German word.
How do you say swim trunks in German?
The German word for swim trunks is die Badehose. It's a compound of baden (to bathe/swim) and die Hose (pants). Note that in German, Badehose is singular — unlike English, where "trunks" is typically plural. You'll also hear die Schwimmhose in some regions, but Badehose is by far the most common term.
What is the difference between Badehose and Badeanzug?
Die Badehose refers to swim trunks or swimming shorts — typically worn by men and boys. Der Badeanzug is a one-piece swimsuit — typically worn by women and girls. For a two-piece swimsuit, the German word is der Bikini.
