"Tante" is feminine in German — the correct article is die. The plural is die Tanten. In English, Tante means "aunt"."Die Tante" is common family vocabulary at A1–A2 level — the counterpart to der Onkel (uncle). The gender and declension are straightforward: feminine, -n plural, no surprises. What makes "Tante" interesting is its use in everyday German beyond the family context — you'll see it in compounds like Tante-Emma-Laden (corner shop). Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a quiz.
Gender rule: Female persons are generally feminine in German. "Tante" also ends in -e, which is a common feminine tendency — most nouns ending in -e are feminine. The plural simply adds -n: Tante → Tanten. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
Tante — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Tante | die Tanten |
| Genitive | der Tante | der Tanten |
| Dative | der Tante | den Tanten |
| Accusative | die Tante | die Tanten |
Example Sentences with Tante
Die Tante bringt immer Geschenke mit.
(The aunt always brings presents.) — Nominative
Ich besuche die Tante nächsten Monat in Köln.
(I'm visiting the aunt next month in Cologne.) — Accusative
Das Kind zeigt der Tante sein neues Spielzeug.
(The child shows the aunt its new toy.) — Dative
Das Haus der Tante hat einen großen Garten.
(The aunt's house has a big garden.) — Genitive
Die Tanten organisieren jedes Jahr das Familienfest.
(The aunts organize the family celebration every year.) — Nominative Plural
Wir haben den Tanten Blumen zum Geburtstag geschickt.
(We sent the aunts flowers for their birthday.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Word family (Wortfamilie): der Onkel (uncle), der Neffe (nephew), die Nichte (niece), die Mutter (mother), der Vater (father)
Common compounds (Komposita): die Großtante (great-aunt), die Patentante (godmother), der Tante-Emma-Laden (corner shop/mom-and-pop store — literally "Aunt Emma's shop"), tantenhaft (auntie-like — adjective, colloquial)
Common Mistake with Tante
❌ Common mistake: Ich gebe des Tantes ein Geschenk.
✅ Correct: Ich gebe der Tante ein Geschenk.
💡 Why: Feminine nouns never add -s in the genitive or dative — only the article changes. The dative of "die Tante" is der Tante (not "des Tantes"). The -s genitive ending only applies to masculine and neuter nouns (des Onkels, des Kindes).
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Can you get all three right? Apply what you've learned above.
1. ___ Tante kommt aus Hamburg.
- A) Der
- B) Die
- C) Das
Check Answer
"Die Tante" — Female persons are generally feminine in German, and the -e ending confirms it. In the nominative, the article is die.
2. Die Kinder besuchen ___ Tante in den Ferien.
- A) die Tante
- B) der Tante
- C) den Tante
Check Answer
"Besuchen" takes an accusative object (whom?). Feminine accusative = die, same as the nominative. The noun doesn't change: die Tante.
3. Das ist das Auto einer nett___ Tante.
- A) -e
- B) -er
- C) -en
Check Answer
After an indefinite article in the genitive feminine, the adjective ending is -en: einer netten Tante. In the genitive, adjective endings are always -en regardless of gender or article type.
Want to practice more nouns like this? The Article Trainer has 600+ nouns — including family vocabulary and common feminine nouns.
More People & Family Nouns
- der Onkel — the uncle
- der Neffe — the nephew
- die Nichte — the niece
- der Vater — the father
- die Mutter — the mother
- der Bruder — the brother
- die Schwester — the sister
- die Familie — the family
For more A1 vocabulary, explore the full vocabulary overview or test yourself with the vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Tante? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and common feminine nouns. Pick the article, get instant feedback, and stop guessing.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tante masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Tante is feminine — the correct article is die. Female persons are generally feminine in German, and the -e ending is also a common feminine indicator. See all gender rules in the Article Rules.
What is the plural of Tante?
The plural is die Tanten — simply add -n. This is the standard plural for feminine nouns ending in -e: die Tante → die Tanten, die Lampe → die Lampen, die Straße → die Straßen.
What is a Tante-Emma-Laden?
Der Tante-Emma-Laden is a German expression for a small corner shop or mom-and-pop store — literally "Aunt Emma's shop." It describes a small, old-fashioned neighborhood store where "Tante Emma" (Aunt Emma) knows every customer personally. The term is still widely used, even though most of these small shops have been replaced by supermarkets.
What is the difference between Tante and Onkel?
Die Tante means "aunt" and der Onkel means "uncle" — they are the female and male counterparts for parents' siblings. Both are commonly used informally for close family friends too, especially by children: "Tante Maria" and "Onkel Hans" don't have to be actual relatives.
