"Enkelin" is feminine in German — the correct article is die. The plural is die Enkelinnen (with double -n). In English, Enkelin means "granddaughter". The male counterpart is der Enkel (grandson)."Die Enkelin" is family vocabulary at A2 level — it describes the daughter of your son or daughter. While the male form der Enkel is often used as a gender-neutral term for all grandchildren, "die Enkelin" is specifically for a granddaughter. The -in suffix is one of the most reliable gender markers in German — if you see -in on a person noun, it's always die. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: The suffix -in marks female persons and is 100% reliable — always feminine, no exceptions. The same rule applies to die Lehrerin, die Ärztin, die Köchin. The plural always adds -nen: Enkelin → Enkelinnen. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
Enkelin — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Enkelin | die Enkelinnen |
| Genitive | der Enkelin | der Enkelinnen |
| Dative | der Enkelin | den Enkelinnen |
| Accusative | die Enkelin | die Enkelinnen |
Example Sentences with Enkelin
Die Enkelin malt ein Bild für die Großmutter.
(The granddaughter is painting a picture for the grandmother.) — Nominative
Der Opa trägt die Enkelin auf den Schultern.
(Grandpa carries the granddaughter on his shoulders.) — Accusative
Die Oma singt der Enkelin ein Schlaflied vor.
(Grandma sings the granddaughter a lullaby.) — Dative
Die Spielsachen der Enkelin liegen im Wohnzimmer.
(The granddaughter's toys are in the living room.) — Genitive
Die Enkelinnen tanzen zusammen im Garten.
(The granddaughters are dancing together in the garden.) — Nominative Plural
Die Großeltern erzählen den Enkelinnen Geschichten von früher.
(The grandparents tell the granddaughters stories from the past.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): der Enkel (grandson/grandchild), die Großeltern (grandparents), die Großmutter (grandmother), der Großvater (grandfather), die Oma (grandma), der Opa (grandpa)
Common compounds (Komposita): die Urenkelin (great-granddaughter), das Enkelkind (grandchild — gender-neutral, neuter because of Kind), die Enkeltochter (granddaughter — less common than Enkelin)
Common Mistake with Enkelin
❌ Common mistake: Die Enkelinen spielen Volleyball.
✅ Correct: Die Enkelinnen spielen Volleyball.
💡 Why: The plural of -in nouns adds -nen, not just -en. This creates a double-n: Enkelin → Enkelinnen. The same applies to all -in nouns: die Lehrerin → die Lehrerinnen, die Freundin → die Freundinnen. Missing the double-n is one of the most common spelling mistakes in German.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Der Opa zeigt ___ Enkelin den Garten.
- A) die Enkelin
- B) der Enkelin
- C) den Enkelin
Check Answer
"Zeigen" requires a dative object (to whom?). Feminine dative = der: der Enkelin. The noun itself doesn't change.
2. Die Oma vermisst ___ Enkelin sehr.
- A) ihr Enkelin
- B) ihren Enkelin
- C) ihre Enkelin
Check Answer
"Vermissen" takes an accusative object (whom?). The possessive pronoun for feminine accusative is ihre: ihre Enkelin. Feminine accusative = feminine nominative. "Ihren" would be masculine accusative, "ihr" without ending would be masculine/neuter nominative. Learn more about pronouns.
3. Sie ist eine talentiert___ Enkelin.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After an indefinite article in the nominative feminine, the adjective ending is -e: eine talentierte Enkelin. Compare with masculine: ein talentierter Enkel — masculine needs -er because "ein" doesn't show the gender.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and common -in nouns.
More People & Family Nouns
- der Enkel — the grandson / grandchild
- der Opa — the grandpa
- die Oma — the grandma
- die Großmutter — the grandmother
- der Vater — the father
- die Mutter — the mother
- die Tochter — the daughter
- die Familie — the family
For more vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Enkelin? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and common -in nouns. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enkelin masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Enkelin is feminine — the correct article is die. The suffix -in is one of the most reliable gender markers in German: it always makes a noun feminine, no exceptions. The same rule applies to die Lehrerin, die Ärztin, die Freundin. See all gender rules in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Enkelin?
The plural is die Enkelinnen — with -nen, creating a double-n. This is the standard plural for all -in nouns: Enkelin → Enkelinnen, Lehrerin → Lehrerinnen, Freundin → Freundinnen. Don't forget the double-n — "Enkelinen" with only one n is incorrect.
What is the difference between Enkelin and Enkel?
Die Enkelin specifically means "granddaughter." Der Enkel technically means "grandson" but is commonly used as a gender-neutral term for any grandchild. In the plural, die Enkel often includes both grandsons and granddaughters, while die Enkelinnen refers exclusively to granddaughters.
Does the -in ending always make a noun feminine?
Yes — when -in is added to a masculine person noun to create the female version, it is 100% feminine, no exceptions. Der Lehrer → die Lehrerin, der Arzt → die Ärztin, der Enkel → die Enkelin. The plural always adds -nen: die Lehrerinnen, die Ärztinnen, die Enkelinnen. This is one of the most reliable rules in German grammar.
