English nouns usually form the plural by adding -s or -es, but some follow special patterns and a few change form completely. This guide covers common regular endings and important irregular plurals so you can talk about more than one thing naturally.
Regular Plurals
Most English nouns make the plural by adding -s to the singular form, and the pronunciation stays simple when the noun ends in a vowel or typical consonant. This pattern applies to everyday words like cat → cats and book → books.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| cat | cats | |
| dog | dogs | |
| book | books | |
| car | cars |
Nouns Ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, -sh
Nouns that end in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh form the plural by adding -es, which creates an extra syllable so the word is easier to say. This rule applies to words like bus → buses and box → boxes.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| bus | buses | |
| box | boxes | |
| watch | watches | |
| dish | dishes |
Nouns Ending in -y
When a noun ends in a consonant + -y, the -y changes to -i and you add -es for the plural; but if the noun ends in a vowel + -y, you just add -s. This pattern shows in pairs like baby → babies and key → keys.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| baby | babies | |
| city | cities | |
| key | keys | |
| toy | toys |
Nouns Ending in -f or -fe
Some nouns ending in -f or -fe change the ending to -ves in the plural, though others simply add -s; common examples are wolf → wolves and knife → knives, but roof → roofs. It's best to learn each noun's form.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| wolf | wolves | |
| knife | knives | |
| leaf | leaves | |
| roof | roofs |
Irregular Plurals
Irregular plurals do not follow standard rules and must be learned because they often appear in everyday speech and writing; these nouns can change vowels, endings, or remain the same. Knowing them helps you sound natural when describing groups.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| man | men | |
| woman | women | |
| child | children | |
| tooth | teeth |
Plurals That Stay the Same
Some nouns have identical singular and plural forms, especially animals, equipment, and group names; examples include sheep, fish, and deer. You use the same form for one or many when counting or describing.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| sheep | sheep | |
| fish | fish | |
| deer | deer | |
| moose | moose |
Plurals Ending in -en and Other Old Forms
A few nouns keep archaic plural endings like -en or change in less common ways, such as ox → oxen and child → children. These forms are traditional and appear in both speech and writing, so they are worth remembering.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| ox | oxen | |
| child | children | |
| foot | feet | |
| goose | geese |
Summary
Regular plurals add -s or -es according to simple patterns based on the noun's ending, while irregular plurals must be learned because they change form in unpredictable ways. Practice with common examples so you can quickly form plurals when speaking and writing.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025