Go to App

German Plural Formation

German forms plurals in five main ways, with each different endings and often with umlaut changes. German plural patterns depend on gender, word ending, and word origin. As article, all plural nouns in German use die. German plurals are irregular but follow some patterns:

Pattern 1: Adding -e (with possible umlaut)

This pattern is used for most masculine nouns and many neuter ones. Masculine nouns ending in a consonant typically follow this pattern. Some rare female ones also follow this pattern. Monosyllabic nouns often add an umlaut.

SingularPlural
der Stierdie Stiere
der Stuhldie Stühle
der Balldie Bälle

Pattern 2: Adding -n/-en

About 90% of all feminine nouns follow this pattern. If they end in -e, -el, -er, -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ion, -ik, and -tät, they use this pattern. Add -n if the word ends in -e, -el, or -er; otherwise add -en. Some rare masculine nouns also follow this rule.

SingularPluralEnglish
die Blumedie Blumenflower(s)
die Fraudie Frauenwoman/women
die Schwesterdie Schwesternsister(s)

Special cases: Feminine nouns ending in -in double the n: die Lehrerin → die Lehrerinnen.

Pattern 3: Adding -er (with possible umlaut)

This pattern is primarily used for monosyllabic neuter nouns and a few masculine nouns. It is never used for feminine nouns. The stem vowel often takes an umlaut. Many words for people, children, and family members use this pattern.

SingularPluralEnglish
das Kinddie Kinderchild(ren)
das Buchdie Bücherbook(s)

Pattern 4: Adding -s

This pattern is used for words ending in vowels other than -e (-a, -i, -o, -u, -y), foreign words and loanwords (especially from English and French), abbreviations and acronyms, and family names. No umlauts are added with this pattern.

SingularPluralCategory
das Autodie AutosForeign word
das Hoteldie HotelsForeign word
das WCdie WCsAbbreviation

Pattern 5: No Change (with possible umlaut)

Masculine and neuter nouns ending in -er, -en, -el don't add an ending but may add an umlaut. Diminutives (ending in -chen and -lein) never add an ending or umlaut. This pattern includes many professions, tools, and instruments.

SingularPluralEnglishChange?
der Lehrerdie Lehrerteacher(s)None
der Apfeldie Äpfelapple(s)Umlaut only
das Mädchendie Mädchengirl(s)None
der Gartendie Gärtengarden(s)Umlaut only

Special Plural Cases

Foreign words borrowed from Latin or Greek (ending in -ma, -um, or -us) use the plural endings -en or -a.

SingularPlural
das Museumdie Museen
das Themadie Themen
der Kaktusdie Kakteen
das Praktikumdie Praktika

Some nouns are not countable and do not have a plural.

No plural form:

  • das Obst (fruit)
  • die Milch (milk)
  • der Hunger (hunger)

Other nouns are always plural and do not have a singular form.

No singular form:

  • die Leute (people)
  • die Ferien (vacation)
  • die Eltern (parents)
  • die Geschwister (siblings)