Frist is feminine in German — the correct article is die. The plural is die Fristen. In English, Frist means deadline or time limit.Die Frist is an important word in business German vocabulary, especially when dealing with contracts, applications, or legal matters. It's typically learned at A2–B1 level. Whether it's the deadline for a Bewerbung or the notice period in an Arbeitsvertrag — knowing this word is essential. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: There is no clear ending-based gender rule for Frist — the article must be memorized. However, many abstract time-related nouns in German are feminine (die Zeit, die Stunde, die Woche, die Frist). See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Frist — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Frist | die Fristen |
| Genitive | der Frist | der Fristen |
| Dative | der Frist | den Fristen |
| Accusative | die Frist | die Fristen |
Example Sentences with Frist
Die Frist endet am 30. Juni.
(The deadline ends on June 30th.) — Nominative
Wir müssen die Frist unbedingt einhalten.
(We absolutely have to meet the deadline.) — Accusative
Nach der Frist werden keine Bewerbungen mehr angenommen.
(No more applications will be accepted after the deadline.) — Dative
Die Verlängerung der Frist muss beantragt werden.
(The extension of the deadline must be requested.) — Genitive
Die Fristen für die Abgabe sind sehr knapp.
(The deadlines for submission are very tight.) — Nominative Plural
Bei den Fristen gibt es keinen Spielraum.
(There is no flexibility with the deadlines.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): befristen (to set a time limit — verb), fristlos (without notice — adjective)
Common compounds (Komposita): die Kündigungsfrist (notice period), die Bewerbungsfrist (application deadline), die Zahlungsfrist (payment deadline), die Fristverlängerung (deadline extension)
Common Mistake with Frist
❌ Common mistake: Die Fristes sind abgelaufen.
✅ Correct: Die Fristen sind abgelaufen.
💡 Why: The plural of Frist is Fristen — not "Fristes." German never forms plurals with -es. Many feminine nouns form the plural by adding -en: die Frist → die Fristen, die Schrift → die Schriften.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Nach ___ Frist ist eine Verlängerung nicht mehr möglich.
- A) der Frist
- B) die Frist
- C) dem Frist
Check Answer
The preposition nach always takes the dative. Feminine dative = der: nach der Frist.
2. Der Arbeitgeber hat ___ Frist um eine Woche verlängert.
- A) der Frist
- B) dem Frist
- C) die Frist
Check Answer
"Verlängern" takes an accusative object (what did he extend?). Feminine accusative = die: die Frist.
3. Wir haben die festgelegt___ Frist eingehalten.
- A) -en
- B) -er
- C) -e
Check Answer
After the definite article die in the accusative feminine, the adjective ending is -e: die festgelegte Frist. After a definite article in the accusative feminine, the ending is always -e.
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 Bewerbung — the application
- die Besprechung — the meeting
- die Aufgabe — the task
- der Arbeitsvertrag — the employment contract
- der Arbeitgeber — the employer
- der Arbeitnehmer — the employee
- das Büro — the office
- 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 Frist masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Frist is feminine — the correct article is die. There is no clear ending-based gender rule for Frist, so the article must be memorized. A helpful pattern to note: many abstract time-related nouns in German are feminine (die Zeit, die Stunde, die Woche, die Frist).
What is the plural of Frist?
The plural is die Fristen. The noun adds -en in the plural. In the dative plural: den Fristen (no extra -n needed because the plural already ends in -n).
How do you say deadline in German?
The German word for deadline is die Frist. It can also mean "time limit" or "period." For example, a Kündigungsfrist is a notice period, and a Bewerbungsfrist is an application deadline. The related adjective fristlos means "without notice" — as in fristlose Kündigung (termination without notice).
What is the difference between Frist and Termin?
Die Frist is a time limit or deadline — a period within which something must happen. Der Termin is a specific date or appointment — a fixed point in time. For example: "Die Frist endet am Freitag" (the deadline ends on Friday) vs. "Ich habe am Freitag einen Termin" (I have an appointment on Friday).
