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 loan wordsNo definition set for loan wordsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., 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 |
