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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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