Study Resource: German plural nouns reference sheet
Common plural endings in German
Add to plural | Example |
|---|---|
no change | der Jäger — die Jäger hunter — hunters |
der Fischer — die Fischer fisherman — fishermen | |
der Kegel — die Kegel bowling pin — bowling pins | |
-e | das Brot — die Brote bread — breads |
der Tag — die Tage days — days | |
das Boot — die Boote boat — boats | |
-er | das Kind — die Kinder child — children |
das Bild — die Bilder picture — pictures | |
das Reis — die Reiser twig — twigs | |
-en | die Zeit — die Zeiten time — times |
die Bahn — die Bahnen railway — railways | |
das Bett — die Betten bed — beds | |
-n | die Nase — die Nasen nose — noses |
die Dose — die Dosen can — cans | |
der Junge — die Jungen boy — boys | |
umlaut | der Schaden — die Schäden damage — damages |
der Boden — die Böden floor — floors | |
der Laden — die Läden shop — shops | |
umlaut + -e | der Sohn — die Söhne son — sons |
der Bach — die Bäche creek — creeks | |
der Pfahl — die Pfähle pole — poles | |
umlaut + -er | das Buch — die Bücher book — books |
das Loch — die Löcher hole — holes | |
das Fach — die Fächer subjects — subjects | |
-nen | die Lehrerin — die Lehrerinnen female teacher — female teachers |
die Juristin — die Juristinnen female lawyer — female lawyers | |
die Hündin — die Hündinnen female dog — female dogs | |
-se | das Zeugnis — die Zeugnisse report card — report cards |
das Erlebnis — die Erlebnisse experience — experiences | |
der Kürbis — die Kürbisse pumpkin — pumpkins | |
-s | das Auto — die Autos car — cars |
das Pony — die Ponys pony — ponies | |
das Video — die Videos video — videos |
Less common plural endings in German
Many of the endings in the table below are applied to , rather than native German words.
Plural modifications | Example |
|---|---|
remove -us or -um, | der Jäger — die Jäger hunter — hunters |
der Fischer — die Fischer fisherman — fishermen | |
remove -um, add -ien | das Aquarium — die Aquarien aquarium — aquariums |
das Ministerium — die Ministerien governmental department — governmental departments | |
remove -um add -a | das Visum — die Visa visa — visas |
das Antibiotikum — die Antibiotika antibiotic — antibiotics | |
remove -o add -i | das Solo — die Soli solo — solos |
der Paparazzo — die Paparazzi paparazzi — paparazzi | |
remove -a add -en | die Firma, die Firmen company — companies |
die Pizza, die Pizzen pizza — pizzas | |
remove -o add -en | das Konto — die Konten bank account — bank accounts |
das Risiko — die Risiken risk — risks |
Very uncommon plural rules in German
The following plural rules are used by a few words, but these patterns don’t extend to many verbs.
Plural modifications | Example |
|---|---|
remove -us, add -en | der Globus, die Globen globe — globes |
remove -us, add -oden | der Oktopus — die Oktopoden octopus — octopi |
remove -us, add -ora | das Tempus — die Tempora tense — tenses |
remove -us, add -i | der Modus — die Modi modus — modi |
remove -um, add -en | das Album — die Alben album — albums |
remove -s, add -nten | der Atlas — die Atlanten atlas — atlases |
remove -us, add -a | das Lexikon — die Lexika lexicon — lexicons |
remove -is, add -en | die Arztpraxis — die Arztpraxen doctor's office — doctor's offices |
add -nen | der Embryo — die Embryonen embryo — embryos |
add -ta | das Komma — die Kommata comma — commas |
remove -ex, add -izes | der Index — die Indizes index — indexes |
Examples from some unusual groups of German nouns
Some nouns have multiple plurals, no plural, or no singular. Let’s have a look!
German nouns with two different plural forms
Singular | Plurals |
|---|---|
der Junge the boy | die Jungen / die Jungs the boys |
der Kerl the guy | die Kerle / die Kerls the guys |
die Mädel the girl | die Mädel / die Mädels the girls |
der Kaktus cactus | die Kakteen / die Kaktusse cacti |
der Oktopus octopus | die Oktopoden / die Oktopusse octopi |
der Globus globe | die Globen / die Globusse globes |
Examples of German nouns that only have a plural form
Plural-only noun |
|---|
die Eltern parents |
die Leute people |
die Kosten expenses |
Examples of German nouns that only have a singular form
This group includes nouns for uncountable things and concepts.
Singular-only noun |
|---|
die Obst fruit (in general) |
der Lärm noise |
die Wehmut wistfulness |
