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

# Motor: der, die or das?

der Motor

Engine

maskulin · masculine [City and transport](https://yupolearn.com/en/topics/city-transport/) Level: Intermediate

**Short answer:** Motor takes the article der (der Motor). It’s a masculine noun (German: maskulin) and means “engine” in English.

## Motor: word facts

- **Article**: der
- **Gender**: maskulin (masculine)
- **English**: Engine
- **Topic**: City and transport
- **Yupo level**: Intermediate

## Check a dictionary

You can also check the article in independent German dictionaries:

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

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

## Why does Motor take der?

Nouns ending in -or usually take der. In Yupo’s list, 25 of 26 such words take der (96%).

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

## Motor in the accusative and dative

Singular, with the definite article

| Nominativ subject: who? what? | der Motor |
| --- | --- |
| Akkusativ direct object: whom? what? | den Motor |
| Dativ indirect object: to whom? | dem Motor |

## More words ending in -or

[der Monitor](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/monitor/) [der Cursor](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/cursor/) [der Ventilator](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/ventilator/) [der Transformator](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/transformator/) [der Traktor](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/traktor/) [der Restaurator](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/restaurator/) [der Bachelor](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/bachelor/) [der Moderator](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/moderator/)

## More words about city and transport

[All →](https://yupolearn.com/en/topics/city-transport/)

[die Bahn Railway](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/bahn/) [der Schlauch Hose](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/schlauch/) [die Schnellstraße Expressway](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/schnellstrasse/) [das Fahrrad Bicycle](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/fahrrad/) [das Gaspedal Accelerator](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/gaspedal/) [der Tank Tank](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/tank/) [die Fahrstunde Driving lesson](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/fahrstunde/) [das Autobahnkreuz Motorway interchange](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/autobahnkreuz/) [der Ersatzbus Replacement bus](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/ersatzbus/) [die Hausnummer House number](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/hausnummer/) [der Roller Scooter](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/roller/) [der Sommerreifen Summer tyre](https://yupolearn.com/en/word/sommerreifen/)

## der Motor 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.

[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6762095984?pt=127929268&ct=web_en_word_cta&mt=8) [Get it free on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.artikel.mobile.de&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dweb%26utm_medium%3Dword_cta%26utm_campaign%3Dweb_en)

![Yupo the rabbit waving](https://yupolearn.com/_astro/default.ENR8SEKT_1h4h1g.webp)