eine

Eine is the feminine singular form of the indefinite article in German. It marks non-specific reference to a feminine noun in singular, as in eine Blume (a flower). Eine can also function as an indefinite pronoun meaning “one” in certain constructions, such as Gib mir eine (Give me one).

Declension and examples

- Nominative feminine: eine. Example: Eine Blume steht im Garten. (A flower is in the garden.)

- Accusative feminine: eine. Example: Ich sehe eine Blume. (I see a flower.)

- Dative feminine: einer. Example: Ich helfe einer Frau. (I help a woman.)

- Genitive feminine: einer. Example: Das Ende einer Reise. (The end of a journey.)

Usage notes

Eine is used with feminine singular nouns to refer to non-specific items. There is no plural indefinite article in German; speakers instead use words like einige (some) or manche (several), or rely on context. The form einer appears in the dative and genitive singular, and is also common in fixed expressions and pronoun-like uses.

Related forms

The indefinite article in the masculine and neuter is ein; the feminine form is eine. The forms decline by case as ein/eine (nominative), einen/eine (accusative, masculine), einem/einem (dative), eines/einer (genitive). The usage patterns of eine are tied to standard German grammar for articles and pronouns.

Etymology

Eine derives from the same Germanic root as the English word one, tracing to Proto-Germanic *ainaz, representing the notion of “one” or “a single”. The feminine form developed as part of the gendered article system in Old High German and evolved into modern standard German.