---
title: "Karies: der, die or das? It’s die Karies (tooth decay) | Yupo"
description: "Short answer: die Karies, “tooth decay”. Accusative: die Karies; dative: der Karies. Learn why it takes die and test yourself with a mini quiz."
url: https://yupolearn.com/en/word/karies/
---

# Karies: der, die or das?

die Karies

Tooth decay

feminin · feminine [Body and health](https://yupolearn.com/en/topics/body-health/) Level: Intermediate

**Short answer:** Karies takes the article die (die Karies). It’s a feminine noun (German: feminin) and means “tooth decay” in English.

## Karies: word facts

- **Article**: die
- **Gender**: feminin (feminine)
- **English**: Tooth decay
- **Topic**: Body and health
- **Yupo level**: Intermediate

## Check a dictionary

You can also check the article in independent German dictionaries:

- [Karies in Duden →](https://www.duden.de/suchen/dudenonline/Karies)
- [Karies in DWDS →](https://www.dwds.de/wb/Karies)

Last updated: October 24, 2026 · [Method](https://yupolearn.com/en/about/#method)

## Why does Karies take die?

No suffix rule covers Karies, so learn it together with its article. In Yupo, die words are red. Picture Karies as something red.

[See the article rules →](https://yupolearn.com/en/german-article-rules/)

## Karies in the accusative and dative

Singular, with the definite article

| Nominativ subject: who? what? | die Karies |
| --- | --- |
| Akkusativ direct object: whom? what? | die Karies |
| Dativ indirect object: to whom? | der Karies |

## More words about body and health

[All →](https://yupolearn.com/en/topics/body-health/)

[die Rippe Rib](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/rippe/) [der Muskelkater Aching, sore muscles](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/muskelkater/) [die Entspannung Relaxation](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/entspannung/) [die Leber Liver](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/leber/) [die Lippe Lip](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/lippe/) [der Erreger Pathogen](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/erreger/) [der Muskel Muscle](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/muskel/) [der Sport Sport](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/sport/) [die Müdigkeit Fatigue](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/muedigkeit/) [der Bauchnabel Bellybutton](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/bauchnabel/) [der Blinddarm Appendix](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/blinddarm/) [der Lymphknoten Lymph node](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/lymphknoten/)

## die Karies and 4,544 more words

In Yupo, every word comes with its article: hear it, say it, type it. The words you get wrong go into their own list. Start for free.

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