hundes

Hundes is the genitive singular form of the German noun Hund, meaning dog. In standard German, the genitive singular is used to indicate possession and is typically combined with the definite article des. For example, das Fell des Hundes means the dog’s fur, and die Augen des Hundes means the dog’s eyes. The form Hundes itself is not used independently in ordinary sentences; it appears within the noun phrase as the genitive of Hund.

Etymology and morphology: Hundis derives from Old High German hund, with the modern genitive suffix -es. The masculine noun Hund has the plural Hunde, and the genitive plural is der Hunde (the dogs’). The use of the genitive with Hund follows standard German declension patterns for masculine nouns.

Usage notes: The genitive case is common in written German and in formal spoken language, especially in literary or bureaucratic contexts. In everyday speech, many speakers substitute von + dative to express possession, as in das Fell von dem Hund instead of das Fell des Hundes. This shift can reduce reliance on the genitive in informal registers.

Related terms: Hund (singular, dog), Hunde (plural, dogs). The concept of possession in German also parallels the more general use of the genitive with other nouns, and is distinct from possessive pronouns.

In summary, Hundes is the genitive singular form of Hund used to indicate ownership in German, most often appearing with des in established phrases like das Fell des Hundes.