Plural forms

The rule

Learn the plural with each noun. Endings vary, and some vowels change. In the nominative and accusative, all plural genders use die.

-e · -(e)n · -er · -s · no ending | sometimes add an umlaut

The major endings are -e, -(e)n, -er, -s, and no visible ending. Examples include der Tag → die Tage, die Frau → die Frauen, das Kind → die Kinder, das Auto → die Autos, and der Lehrer → die Lehrer.

An umlaut can accompany an ending or stand alone: der Stuhl → die Stühle, das Buch → die Bücher, der Apfel → die Äpfel, die Mutter → die Mütter. Treat the vowel change as part of the plural form.

Feminine nouns very often take -(e)n, especially those ending in -e, -ung, and -in: die Blume → die Blumen, die Wohnung → die Wohnungen, die Freundin → die Freundinnen.

The five main plural patterns

Where the umlaut appears

Singular and plural agreement

German examples with English meanings

der Stuhl → die Stühle

the chair → the chairs

umlaut + -e

die Wohnung → die Wohnungen

the apartment → the apartments

-(e)n

das Bild → die Bilder

the picture → the pictures

-er

das Café → die Cafés

the café → the cafés

-s

die Zeitung – die Zeitungen

newspaper – newspapers

das Bild – die Bilder

picture – pictures

der Computer – die Computer

computer – computers

Ein Lehrer arbeitet. Drei Lehrer arbeiten.

One teacher works. Three teachers work.

Das Kind spielt. Die Kinder spielen.

The child plays. The children play.

Die Bücher sind neu. Sie sind teuer.

The books are new. They are expensive.

ein Buch – drei Bücher

one book – three books

eine Frau – zwei Frauen

one woman – two women

ein Café – viele Cafés

one café – many cafés

Common mistakes

Details and useful distinctions

Many modern international words take -s: das Auto → die Autos, das Hotel → die Hotels, das Café → die Cafés. But origin alone is not a perfect rule, so verify unfamiliar forms.

All nominative and accusative plurals use die, regardless of the singular gender. Indefinite plurals have no form of ein: ein Buch, but Bücher—not eine Bücher.

Plural subjects require plural verbs and pronouns: Das Kind spielt; die Kinder spielen. Das Buch ist neu; die Bücher sind neu; sie sind interessant.

A plural pattern helps organise memory, but the singular form rarely predicts the plural with complete certainty. Record the exact pair first, then group it with similar nouns.

For example, die Wohnung – die Wohnungen joins a strong feminine -(e)n family, while das Buch – die Bücher requires both an umlaut and -er. Recalling the family supports—but does not replace—the stored pair.

A plural is not only a noun ending. Article, number words, verb agreement, and pronouns all carry number information. Even when Lehrer has no visible change, drei Lehrer arbeiten clearly marks a plural.

When proofreading, check the whole agreement chain: die + plural noun + plural verb + sie. This catches errors such as Die Kinder ist draußen.

Say singular and plural in contrast, not in isolation: der Mann – die Männer; die Hand – die Hände. The article gives gender in the singular and flags plurality in the second form.

Use spaced retrieval with productive prompts: one book, three ___; one woman, two ___. This trains the form under the same pressure as real speech.

Practise this grammar

Never store a bare singular. Learn article + noun + plural as one card: der Apfel – die Äpfel. Then say the pair in contrast until the sound change is automatic.

Open Plural forms exercises →

For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.