noun
building
B1
Gebäude: means building, a structure or edifice. Neuter noun (das Gebäude) with plural Gebäude — same form as singular but different article (die Gebäude). Genitive singular often des Gebäudes (-s). Regular declension otherwise (den Gebäuden). Used for houses, offices, public and commercial buildings.
Examples
Die Feuerwehr untersuchte das Gebäude, nachdem Rauch gemeldet worden war.
The fire brigade inspected the building after smoke had been reported.
Das höchste Gebäude der Stadt ist ein Wolkenkratzer.
The tallest building in the city is a skyscraper.
Das Gebäude ist neu und hat viele Fenster.
The building is new and has many windows.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a blocky modern building with many windows stacked like stories of a cake labeled 'Gebäude'.
Sounds like 'guest' + 'boy' (ga-BOY-de) — think of guests arriving at a building.
Neuter: remember 'das Gebäude' — think 'das' looks like a box (□) like a building.
Notes
Gebäude is neuter (das Gebäude). The plural is identical to the singular (die Gebäude). In written genitive singular you may see des Gebäudes, and the dative is dem Gebäude. Commonly used for residential, commercial, and public buildings.