Kartoffel is feminine in German — the correct article is die. The plural is die Kartoffeln. In English, Kartoffel translates to potato.Die Kartoffel is a centerpiece of the German food and drinks vocabulary. As it is one of the most important staple foods in Germany, you will encounter this word constantly at the A1 level—whether reading a menu, shopping for groceries, or discussing traditional dishes. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Nouns ending in -el can be masculine, feminine, or neuter, but many everyday food items and household objects are feminine (die Kartoffel, die Nudel, die Gabel). See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Kartoffel — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Kartoffel | die Kartoffeln |
| Genitive | der Kartoffel | der Kartoffeln |
| Dative | der Kartoffel | den Kartoffeln |
| Accusative | die Kartoffel | die Kartoffeln |
Example Sentences with Kartoffel
Die Kartoffel stammt ursprünglich aus Südamerika.
(The potato originally comes from South America.) — Nominative
Er schält die Kartoffel sehr schnell.
(He peels the potato very quickly.) — Accusative
Mit der Kartoffel kann man eine leckere Suppe machen.
(You can make a delicious soup with the potato.) — Dative
Die Schale der Kartoffel enthält viele Vitamine.
(The skin of the potato contains many vitamins.) — Genitive
Die Kartoffeln kochen im heißen Wasser.
(The potatoes are boiling in the hot water.) — Nominative Plural
Zu den Kartoffeln passt etwas Kräuterquark perfekt.
(A little herb curd goes perfectly with the potatoes.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): das Kartöffelchen (little potato — diminutive)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Kartoffelsalat (potato salad), der Kartoffelbrei (mashed potatoes), die Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup), der Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancake), die Süßkartoffel (sweet potato)
Common Mistake with Kartoffel
❌ Common mistake: Die Kartoffels sind noch hart.
✅ Correct: Die Kartoffeln sind noch hart.
💡 Why: English speakers often try to form the plural by adding an "-s" (potatoes). In German, however, feminine nouns ending in "-el" almost always form their plural by adding an -n: die Kartoffeln.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Das grüne Gemüse passt hervorragend zu ___.
- A) der Kartoffel
- B) die Kartoffel
- C) den Kartoffel
Check Answer
The preposition zu always requires the dative case. Feminine dative = der: zu der Kartoffel.
2. Er schneidet ___ in kleine Stücke für den Salat.
- A) die Kartoffeln
- B) der Kartoffeln
- C) den Kartoffeln
Check Answer
"Schneiden" takes a direct object in the accusative case. Plural accusative = die: die Kartoffeln.
3. Sie legt die gekocht___ Kartoffel auf den Teller.
- A) -e
- B) -en
- C) -er
Check Answer
After the definite article die in the accusative feminine, the adjective ending is -e: die gekochte Kartoffel.
More Food Nouns & Vocabulary
- die Nudel — the noodle / pasta
- der Reis — the rice
- das Brot — the bread
- der Käse — the cheese
- die Butter — the butter
- die Milch — the milk
- das Ei — the egg
- der Apfel — the apple
- die Banane — the banana
- die Orange — the orange
For more themed vocabulary lists, explore the Vocabulary overview list, practice with the food and drinks vocabulary, or browse the full grammar overview to master your German cases and vocabulary.
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Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kartoffel masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Kartoffel is feminine — the correct article is die. While nouns ending in "-el" can belong to any gender, many common food items and tools ending in this suffix are feminine (such as die Nudel or die Gabel). All compound nouns ending in Kartoffel also take the feminine article, like die Süßkartoffel.
What is the plural of Kartoffel in German?
The plural is die Kartoffeln. You form it by adding an "-n" to the singular noun. Do not add an "-s" like in English.
How do you say mashed potatoes in German?
Mashed potatoes can be translated in a few different ways depending on the region. The most common terms are der Kartoffelbrei and das Kartoffelpüree.
