Common plural endings

• -(e)n: die Frau → die Frauen
• -e (often with umlaut): der Tag → die Tage
• -er (often with umlaut): das Buch → die Bücher
• -s: das Auto → die Autos

Learn in chunks

Say der Mann, die Männer — article + singular + plural as one pattern.

Note

Some nouns have no ending change in writing but different vowels: der Vater → die Väter.

Practical Examples

1. Die Kinder spielen im Garten.

The children are playing in the garden. Usage Note: Many nouns form their plural with -er, sometimes with an umlaut. 'Kind' becomes 'Kinder'.

1. Ich habe zwei Bücher.

I have two books. Usage Note: When using numbers, the plural form of the noun is always used. 'Buch' becomes 'Bücher' (umlaut + -er).

1. Sind das deine Freunde?

Are those your friends? Usage Note: 'Freund' becomes 'Freunde' in the plural, adding an -e. Possessive pronouns like 'deine' also change to match the plural noun.

1. Wir kaufen viele Äpfel.

We are buying many apples. Usage Note: 'Viele' (many) always precedes a plural noun. 'Apfel' becomes 'Äpfel' (umlaut + no ending change).

1. Wo sind die Schlüssel?

Where are the keys? Usage Note: Some masculine nouns, especially those ending in -el, -en, or -er, do not change their form in the plural. 'Schlüssel' remains 'Schlüssel'.

1. Das sind keine Katzen.

Those are not cats. Usage Note: 'Keine' (not any/no) is used with plural nouns in negations. 'Katze' becomes 'Katzen' (adding -n).

1. Ich sehe drei Häuser.

I see three houses. Usage Note: 'Haus' becomes 'Häuser' in the plural, adding an umlaut and -er.

1. Hast du Geschwister?

Do you have siblings? Usage Note: 'Geschwister' is a common plural noun that does not have a singular form in this context (the singular would be 'Bruder' or 'Schwester'). It's also an example of an -er plural.

1. Die Frauen arbeiten heute.

The women are working today. Usage Note: 'Frau' becomes 'Frauen' in the plural, adding -en.

1. Er mag Hunde.

He likes dogs. Usage Note: 'Hund' becomes 'Hunde' in the plural, adding -e.

1. Wir haben fünf Stühle.

We have five chairs. Usage Note: 'Stuhl' becomes 'Stühle' in the plural, adding an umlaut and -e.

1. Sind das neue Autos?

Are those new cars? Usage Note: Some nouns, especially borrowed words or those ending in a vowel, form their plural by adding -s. 'Auto' becomes 'Autos'. Adjectives before plural nouns also take a plural ending (-e here).

1. Ich brauche zwei Tassen.

I need two cups. Usage Note: 'Tasse' becomes 'Tassen' in the plural, adding -n.

1. Die Studenten lernen Deutsch.

The students are learning German. Usage Note: Many masculine nouns, especially those ending in -e in the singular (weak nouns), add -n or -en in the plural. 'Student' becomes 'Studenten'.

1. Das sind meine Eltern.

Those are my parents. Usage Note: 'Eltern' is a common plural noun that does not have a singular form. It refers to both mother and father.