Plurals Startblock Plurals in German follow several patterns. These patterns can help you remember the plural form of each noun you learn.

Plurals In German dictionaries and vocabulary lists, singular nouns are listed along with a notation that indicates how to form the plural. There are five main patterns for forming plural nouns. 2

Plurals ACHTUNG The best way to be sure of a noun’s plural form is to memorize it when you learn the singular form. Being familiar with the patterns of plural formation can make this process easier. 3

Plurals Most masculine and neuter nouns form the plural by adding -e or -er. Plurals with the -er ending always add an Umlaut when the vowel in the singular form is a, o, or u. der Tag (day)  die Tage das Buch  die Bücher

Plurals ACHTUNG Two plurals that do not follow the standard pattern for feminine nouns are die Mütter, plural of Mutter, and die Töchter (daughters), plural of Tochter.

Plurals If the singular form of a noun ends in -el, -en, or -er, there is no additional plural ending, but an Umlaut is added to the stem vowel a, o, or u. der Apfel (apple)  die Äpfel das Zimmer (room)  die Zimmer

For feminine nouns ending with -in, add -nen to form the plural. Plurals For feminine nouns ending with -in, add -nen to form the plural. die Freundin  die Freundinnen die Studentin  die Studentinnen

Plurals For most other feminine nouns, add -n if the singular form ends in -e, -el, or -er. Add -en if it does not. Note that feminine plurals with these endings never add an Umlaut. die Blume (flower)  die Blumen die Frau  die Frauen

Plurals The -s ending is added to most words borrowed from other languages and to most nouns ending with vowels other than e. das Sofa  die Sofas das Auto  die Autos