Plural of Nouns in German (Plural im Deutschen)
Learning the plural of nouns in German can be tricky at first. In German, a plural noun shows that we are talking about more than one thing or person. For example:
Singular: Das Buch ist interessant. (The book is interesting.)
Plural: Die Bücher sind interessant. (The books are interesting.)
In this article, we explain how to make plurals in German, with simple rules and easy examples for beginners.
Why German Plurals Are Important
When you speak, read, or write in German, you need plurals all the time. Every noun has a singular (one) and a plural (more than one).
Singular: der Hund → one dog
Plural: die Hunde → two or more dogs
Notice that in German:
The noun changes (sometimes with a new ending or vowel).
The article changes (der, die, das → die).
The verb changes (ist → sind).
How to Make Plurals in German: Main Rules (Pluralbildung)
There is no single rule, but most nouns follow a pattern. Let’s see the easiest ways.
1. Add -e
Common for masculine and neuter nouns.
Sometimes, the vowel changes with an umlaut (ä, ö, ü).
Examples:
der Tisch → die Tische (table → tables)
der Schuh → die Schuhe (shoe → shoes)
2. Add -er
Often used for neuter nouns.
Sometimes with umlaut.
Examples:
das Kind → die Kinder (child → children)
das Dorf → die Dörfer (village → villages)
3. Add -n / -en
Most feminine nouns use this ending.
Examples:
die Blume → die Blumen (flower → flowers)
die Frau → die Frauen (woman → women)
4. Add -s
Often used with foreign words or abbreviations.
Examples:
das Auto → die Autos (car → cars)
der Chef → die Chefs (boss → bosses)
5. No Ending (Zero Plural)
Examples:
der Lehrer → die Lehrer (teacher → teachers)
der Computer → die Computer (computer → computers)
der Onkel → die Onkel (uncle → uncles)
👉 Nouns ending in -el, -er, -en, -chen, -lein often have zero plural.
Example: das Mädchen (girl) → die Mädchen (girls).
Umlaut Changes in Plurals
Some nouns change the vowel in the plural using ä, ö, ü. This is common with -e and -er endings.
der Mann → die Männer (man → men)
die Mutter → die Mütter (mother → mothers)
das Haus → die Häuser (house → houses)
Articles in Plural (Artikel im Plural)
All plural nouns use die as the definite article, no matter the gender:
der Hund → die Hunde
die Katze → die Katzen
das Kind → die Kinder
This makes it easier to remember the plural form.
More Examples for Beginners
Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|
der Apfel | die Äpfel | apple → apples |
die Lampe | die Lampen | lamp → lamps |
das Auto | die Autos | car → cars |
der Lehrer | die Lehrer | teacher → teachers |
die Blume | die Blumen | flower → flowers |
der Luftballon | die Luftballons | the balloon → the balloons |
When It’s Hard to Tell Singular from Plural
Sometimes German nouns look the same in singular and plural. This can be confusing for beginners. Here are some examples and tips to understand them:
1. Nouns with No Plural Ending
Some nouns do not change in the plural. You have to check the article or the verb to know if it’s singular or plural:
der Lehrer → die Lehrer (teacher → teachers)
der Lehrer = one teacher
die Lehrer = many teachers
das Fenster → die Fenster (window → windows)
das Fenster = one window
die Fenster = many windows
2. Using Context
Look at the words around the noun:
Article:
der Hund (singular) → die Hunde (plural)
Verb:
Der Hund läuft. (singular verb 'läuft')
Die Hunde laufen. (plural verb 'laufen')
3. Words That Can Be Singular or Plural
Some nouns are always plural in meaning, like die Eltern (parents). You cannot use them as singular.
Other nouns are usually singular but sometimes plural without changing form:
das Obst = fruit (general) → can mean multiple fruits without changing the word
Example:
Ich esse jeden Tag Obst. → I eat fruit every day.
Explanation:
Obst can refer to fruit in general, so it doesn’t change for singular or plural.
Even though it means multiple fruits, the word itself stays the same.
Another example:
Im Supermarkt gibt es viel Obst. → There is a lot of fruit in the supermarket.
Tips for Beginners
Always check the article (der/die/das) to see if it’s singular or plural.
Look at the verb: singular verbs often end in -t, plural verbs in -en.
If you are unsure, think about the meaning: Are we talking about one or many
✅How to Learn German Plurals
Learn the plural together with the noun.
Don’t just learn der Tisch, learn der Tisch – die Tische.
Look for patterns.
Feminine nouns usually take -n or -en.
Practice every day.
Read simple German texts and underline plurals.
Write small sentences using plural nouns.
Use flashcards.
On one side: singular
On the other side: plural
Summary: Most Important
German nouns change in the plural.
Common endings: -e, -er, -n/-en, -s or no ending.
Some nouns need an umlaut.
The plural article is always "die".
Practice and repetition help you remember plurals.