German Plural Rules Made Simple
German plural has many rules and many exceptions, but six simple tips get it right in most cases. This lesson gives you one rule for each type of noun, a short summary you can memorise, and a bonus tip about the umlaut.
The Six Tips
| # | Type of noun | What to do | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nouns ending with -e | Add -n (almost 100%) | die Tasche → die Taschen, die Lampe → die Lampen |
| 2 | Masculine nouns | Add -e (about 90%) | der Tisch → die Tische, der Stift → die Stifte |
| 3 | Feminine nouns | Add -n or -en | die Feder → die Federn, die Tür → die Türen |
| 4 | Neutral nouns | Add -er (or -e), about 80% | das Bild → die Bilder, das Ei → die Eier |
| 5 | Nouns ending with -er, -en, -el, -chen | No change (about 90%) | das Messer → die Messer, das Möbel → die Möbel, das Brötchen → die Brötchen |
| 6 | Non-German nouns, abbreviations and nouns ending in -o, -a, -i, -y | Add -s | das Sofa → die Sofas, die DVD → die DVDs, das Büro → die Büros, das Handy → die Handys |
Quick Summary
- Masculine: add -e
- Feminine: add -n or -en
- Neutral: add -er
- Nouns ending with -e: always add -n
- Not sure? Add -e, because it is the most common plural ending
With these rules you are right in about 80% of cases. One more habit helps a lot: every time you learn a new noun, learn it together with its plural form.
Bonus Tip: The Umlaut
Many plurals get an umlaut (the two dots). It is mostly needed in these cases:
- Plural ending in -e: die Stadt → die Städte, der Knopf → die Knöpfe, der Ball → die Bälle
- Plural ending in -er: das Haus → die Häuser, der Mann → die Männer
- Nouns that stay the same in the plural: der Vater → die Väter, die Mutter → die Mütter, der Vogel → die Vögel
These are mostly rules, and there are exceptions again.
Question of the Day
The question Wie viele Handys hast du? is great practice, because after wie viele you always use the noun in the plural. Try Wie viele Computer hast du? or Wie viele Taschen hast du?
What to Learn Next
Plural depends on the noun, so review the genders in Der, Die, Das: German Genders Explained. Then practise the plural in Top 20 German Words You Need to Know and German Family Members Vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I form the plural of masculine nouns in German?
Add -e in about 90% of cases: der Tisch → die Tische.
How do I form the plural of feminine nouns in German?
Add -n or -en: die Feder → die Federn, die Tür → die Türen.
How do I form the plural of neutral nouns in German?
Add -er (or -e): das Bild → die Bilder.
Which nouns do not change in the plural?
Most nouns ending with -er, -en, -el and -chen: das Messer → die Messer.
What should I do if I am not sure about the plural?
Add -e, because it is the most common plural ending. Better still, learn every new noun together with its plural.
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