Plurals
Plurals show more than one thing, and German forms them in several predictable ways as well as some irregular patterns. This guide goes over common endings and key exceptions.
Regular Plurals
Regular plurals follow clear endings based on the noun's gender and declension class, making them fairly predictable for learners. Examples illustrate each pattern.
-en Plurals
Many feminine nouns form the plural with -en, and the singular article is usually die.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| die Katze | the cat |
| die Katze en | the cats |
| die Blume | the flower |
| die Blume en | the flowers |
-er Plurals
Some neuter and masculine nouns form the plural with -er, often adding an umlaut to the stem vowel.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| das Kind | the child |
| die Kind er | the children |
| der Mann | the man |
| die Männ er | the men |
-e Plurals
Many masculine nouns form the plural with -e, and some take an umlaut.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| der Hund | the dog |
| die Hund e | the dogs |
| der Tag | the day |
| die Täg e | the days |
-s Plurals
Foreign words and abbreviations often form the plural with -s, and the article remains die.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| das Auto | the car |
| die Auto s | the cars |
| das Hotel | the hotel |
| die Hotel s | the hotels |
Irregular Plurals
Irregular plurals deviate from standard endings and often require memorization; they frequently involve umlaut changes or completely different forms.
Changing Plurals
Some common nouns change their stem vowel with an umlaut in the plural and add a typical ending.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| der Apfel | the apple |
| die Äpfel | the apples |
| die Stadt | the city |
| die Städte | the cities |
No Plural
Certain nouns have no plural form because they refer to substances, concepts, or singular entities.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| das Wasser | the water |
| der Sand | the sand |
| die Information | the information |
Summary
Plurals in German are formed by several regular endings like -en, -er, -e, and -s, with patterns tied to gender and noun class. Irregular plurals often involve umlaut changes or must be learned individually.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025