Milch is feminine in German — the correct article is die. In English, Milch translates to milk.Die Milch is a vital word within the German food and drinks vocabulary. It is a fundamental A1-level noun used daily when talking about breakfast, coffee, or groceries. Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: There is no strict ending-based rule for this original Germanic root word — the article must be memorized. See all gender patterns in the Article Rules and a full overview at the German Articles.
Milch — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Milch | die Milche / Milchen |
| Genitive | der Milch | der Milche / Milchen |
| Dative | der Milch | den Milchen |
| Accusative | die Milch | die Milche / Milchen |
Example Sentences with Milch
Die frische Milch steht im Kühlschrank.
(The fresh milk is in the fridge.) — Nominative
Sie trinkt die Milch am liebsten kalt.
(She prefers to drink the milk cold.) — Accusative
Der Kaffee schmeckt mit der Milch viel milder.
(The coffee tastes much milder with the milk.) — Dative
Der Fettgehalt der Milch ist auf der Verpackung angegeben.
(The fat content of the milk is indicated on the packaging.) — Genitive
Das Labor testet verschiedene Milche auf ihre Qualität.
(The lab tests different milks for their quality.) — Accusative Plural (Technical Context)
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): milchig (milky / cloudy — adjective)
Common compounds (Komposita): das Milchglas (milk glass), die Kuhmilch (cow's milk), die Hafermilch (oat milk), der Milchreis (rice pudding), der Milchshake (milkshake)
Common Mistake with Milch
❌ Common mistake: Das Milch ist im Kühlschrank.
✅ Correct: Die Milch ist im Kühlschrank.
💡 Why: Many beginners guess that Milch is neuter (das) because it is an inanimate liquid or perhaps by making a false connection to English. However, in German, die Milch is strictly feminine. There is no specific ending rule here, so you must memorize its article.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. Der Preis ___ ist in den letzten Monaten stark gestiegen.
- A) das Milch
- B) der Milch
- C) dem Milch
Check Answer
"Der Preis der Milch" — the genitive case shows possession or attribution (the price of what?). Feminine genitive = der: der Milch.
2. Jeden Morgen kauft er ___ im Supermarkt.
- A) der Milch
- B) dem Milch
- C) die Milch
Check Answer
"Kaufen" takes a direct object in the accusative case. Feminine accusative = die: die Milch.
3. Sie rührt den Kakao in der warm___ Milch um.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After the definite article der in the dative feminine (in der...), the adjective ending is -en: in der warmen Milch.
More Food Nouns & Vocabulary
- das Brot — the bread
- der Käse — the cheese
- die Butter — the butter
- 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.
Is it der, die, or das? Practice makes perfect.
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Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milch masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Milch is feminine — the correct article is die. There is no simple ending-based rule to predict this, so it must be memorized. Its compound nouns take on the gender of the final word, but if Milch is the final word, the compound will also be feminine (e.g., die Kuhmilch, die Hafermilch).
What is the plural of Milch in German?
In everyday language, Milch is an uncountable noun and is only used in the singular. However, in technical or agricultural contexts, the plurals die Milche or die Milchen exist to describe different varieties or types of milk.
How do you say milkshake in German?
The German word for milkshake is der Milchshake. This is a common compound word combining the German "Milch" with the English loanword "Shake". Because "der Shake" is masculine, the entire compound noun becomes masculine.
