In German, every noun has a gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and the plural form depends on that gender along with specific rules and patterns.
How Gender Affects Pluralformation
Gender determines which plural endings and changes a noun will take. While there are many rules, there are also exceptions, so memorization and practice are important.
Masculine Nouns
Masculine nouns usually form plurals with -e or -er, and sometimes add an umlaut. They do not take an -n or -en ending (that mainly applies to feminine nouns).
Plural Patterns:
- Add -e: der Hund → die Hunde
- Add -er with umlaut: der Mann → die Männer
- Add -er without umlaut: der Computer → die Computer
- Add -s (mostly loanwords): der Chef → die Chefs
Feminine Nouns
Feminine nouns form plurals by adding -n or -en. If the noun already ends in -e, just add -n. Most feminine nouns do NOT take umlauts. Some plural forms are irregular.
Plural Patterns:
- Add -n: die Frau → die Frauen
- Add -en: die Blume → die Blumen
- If ends in -e, add -n: die Lampe → die Lampen
- Add -n (irregular endings): die Mutter → die Mütter (here umlaut is added)
- Foreign nouns ending in -in form plural with -nen: die Ärztin → die Ärztinnen
Neuter Nouns
Neuter nouns often form plurals with -e or -er. Many take umlauts with -er plurals. Other neuter nouns add -s, especially if they are loanwords or abbreviations. Some neuter nouns ending in -chen or -lein are diminutives and remain unchanged in plural.
Plural Patterns:
- Add -e: das Buch → die Bücher (with umlaut)
- Add -er: das Kind → die Kinder
- Add -s (loanwords): das Auto → die Autos
- No change (diminutives): das Mädchen → die Mädchen
- Add -e with umlaut: das Wort → die Wörter (plural for words as units)
Summary
- Masculine: -e, -er (with umlaut), or -s
- Feminine: -n or -en (usually no umlaut)
- Neuter: -e, -er (with umlaut), -s, or no change (diminutives)
Always remember to learn the noun's gender and plural form together, as there are many exceptions.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
