The plural forms of German nouns can have the endings n/en, e, r/er, s or no ending at all. However, there are no binding rules. The following table contains tendency rules - plural forms which are used very often with certain endings. But be careful: There are many exceptions. Most of the nouns have the endings -e or -en. Sometimes the vowels of the singular forms a, o, u and au become ä, ö, ü and äu in the plural forms.
In the German language, only one plural form of the defined article exists. Every noun in the plural form - no matter if masculine, feminine or neuter - has the defined article die. There is no plural form for the undefined article which means that the nouns in the plural stand without article.
| German Singular |
English |
|
German Pural |
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Singular |
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| Determination by meanings |
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die Familie f Meier [di: fa'mi:liə 'maiɐ]
|
the family Meier |
die Meiers pl [di: 'maiɐs] |
die Familie f Müller [di: fa'mi:liə 'mʏlɐ]
|
the family Müller |
die Müllers pl [di: 'mʏlɐs] |
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Meeting nt ['mi:tɪŋ]
|
meeting |
Meetings nt pl ['mi:tɪŋs] |
Team nt [ti:m]
|
team |
Teams nt pl [ti:ms] |
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| Determination by gender |
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- The plural forms of most of the
masculine and neuter nouns end
in -e. Feminine nouns always
have an Umlaut in their plural
form, masculine nouns
sometimes.
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Maus f [maus]
|
mouse |
Mäuse f pl ['mɔyzə] |
Saal m [za:l]
|
hall |
Säle m pl ['zɛ:lə] |
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- The plural forms of most of the
feminine nouns, of all the
masculine nouns of the
n-declension, of most of the
foreign nouns and of some
neuter nouns end in -(e)n.
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Nase f ['na:zə]
|
nose |
Nasen f pl ['na:zən] |
Junge m ['jʊŋə]
|
boy |
Jungen m pl ['jʊŋən] |
Auge nt ['augə] |
eye |
Augen nt pl ['augən]
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- The plural forms of most of the
neuter nouns and of some
masculine nouns end in -er.
Most of these nouns have an
Umlaut in the their plural form.
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Tuch nt [tu:x]
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scarf |
Tücher nt pl ['ty:çɐ] |
Strauch m [ʃtraux]
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shrub, bush |
Sträucher m pl ['ʃtrɔyçɐ] |
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| Determination by endings |
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Kamera f ['kaməra]
|
camera |
Kameras f pl ['kaməras] |
Liga f ['li:ga]
|
league |
Ligen f pl ['li:gən] |
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Regal nt [re'ga:l]
|
shelf |
Regale nt pl [re'ga:lə] |
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Doktorand m [dɔkto'rant]
|
doctoral candidate |
Doktoranden m pl [dɔkto'randən] |
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Fabrikant m [fabri'kant]
|
factory owner |
Fabrikanten m pl [fabri'kantən] |
Praktikant m [prakti'kant]
|
trainee |
Praktikanten m pl [prakti'kantən] |
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Kommissar m [kɔmɪ'sa:ɐ]
|
inspector |
Kommissare m pl [kɔmɪ'sa:rə] |
Inventar nt [ɪnvɛn'ta:ɐ]
|
inventory |
Inventare nt pl [ɪnvɛn'ta:rə] |
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Millionär m [mɪlio'nɛ:ɐ]
|
millionaire |
Millionäre m pl [mɪlio'nɛ:rə] |
Militär nt [mili'tɛ:ɐ]
|
military |
Militäre nt pl [mili'tɛ:rə]
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Cineast m [si:ne'ast]
|
cineast |
Cineasten m pl [si:ne'astən] |
Enthusiast m [ɛntu'ziast]
|
enthusiast |
Enthusiasten m pl [ɛntu'ziastən] |
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Bürokrat m [byro'kra:t]
|
bureaucrat |
Bürokraten m pl [byro'kra:tən] |
Kandidat m [kandi'da:t]
|
candidate |
Kandidaten m pl [kandi'da:tən] |
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Diktator m [dɪk'ta:to:ɐ]
|
despot |
Diktatoren m pl [dɪkta:'to:rən] |
Restaurator m [restau'ra:to:ɐ]
|
restorer |
Restauratoren m pl [restaura:'to:rən] |
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Mädchen nt ['mɛ:tçən]
|
girl |
Mädchen nt pl ['mɛ:tçən] |
Kaninchen nt [ka'ni:nçən]
|
rabbit |
Kaninchen nt pl [ka'ni:nçən] |
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Flucht f [flʊxt]
|
escape |
Fluchten f pl [flʊxtən] |
Nacht f [naxt]
|
night |
Nächte f pl ['nɛçtə] |
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Größe f ['grø:sə]
|
size |
Größen f pl ['grø:sən] |
Karte f ['kartə] |
card |
Karten f pl ['kartən] |
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Bäckerei f [bɛkə'rai]
|
bakery |
Bäckereien f pl [bɛkə'raiən] |
Metzgerei f [mɛtsgə'rai]
|
butcher shop |
Metzgereien f pl [mɛtsgə'raiən] |
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Löffel m ['lœfəl]
|
spoon |
Löffel m pl ['lœfəl] |
Viertel nt ['fɪrtəl]
|
quarter |
Viertel nt pl ['fɪrtəl]
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Nutzen m ['nʊtsən]
|
advantage, benefit |
Nutzen m pl ['nʊtsən]
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Schaden m ['ʃa:dən]
|
damage |
Schäden m pl ['ʃɛ:dən] |
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Student m [ʃtu'dɛnt] |
student (at university) |
Studenten m pl [ʃtu'dɛntən] |
Dozent m [do'tsɛnt] |
lecturer |
Dozenten m pl [do'tsɛntən] |
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Lehrer m ['le:rɐ]
|
teacher |
Lehrer m pl ['le:rɐ] |
Computer m [kɔm'pju:tɐ]
|
computer |
Computer m pl [kɔm'pju:tɐ] |
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Ballett nt [ba'lɛt]
|
ballet |
Ballette nt pl [ba'lɛtə] |
Parkett nt [par'kɛt]
|
parquet (flooring) |
Parkette nt pl [par'kɛtə] |
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Friseur/Frisör m ['frizø:ɐ]
|
hairdresser |
Friseure/Frisöre m pl ['frizø:rə] |
Ingenieur m [ɪnʒe'niø:ɐ]
|
engineer |
Ingenieure m pl [ɪnʒe'niø:rə] |
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Paragraph m [para'gra:f]
|
paragraph |
Paragraphen m pl [para'gra:fən] |
Choreograph m [koreo'gra:f]
|
choreographer |
Choreographen m pl [koreo'gra:fən] |
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Freiheit f ['fraihait]
|
freedom |
Freiheiten f pl ['fraihaitən] |
Schönheit f ['ʃø:nhait]
|
beauty |
Schönheiten f pl ['ʃø:nhaitən] |
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Mutti f ['mʊti] |
mum(my), mom(my) |
Muttis f pl ['mʊtis] |
Taxi nt ['taksi] |
taxi |
Taxis nt pl ['taksis] |
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Material nt [mate'ria:l]
|
material |
Materialien nt pl [mate'ria:liən] |
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Teppich m ['tɛpɪç]
|
carpet |
Teppiche m pl ['tɛpɪçə] |
Pfirsich m ['pfɪrzɪç]
|
peach |
Pfirsiche m pl ['pfɪrzɪçə] |
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Familie f [fa'mi:liə]
|
family |
Familien f pl [fa'mi:liən] |
Industrie f [ɪndʊs'tri:]
|
industry |
Industrien f pl ['ɪndʊs'tri:ən] |
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König m ['kø:nɪç]
|
king |
Könige m pl ['kø:nɪgə] |
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Graphik f ['gra:fɪk]
|
diagram |
Graphiken f pl ['gra:fɪkən] |
Technik f ['teçnɪk]
|
technology |
Techniken f pl ['teçnɪkən] |
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Chemiker m ['çe:mɪkɐ]
|
chemist |
Chemiker m pl ['çe:mɪkɐ] |
Physiker m ['fy:zɪkɐ] |
physicist |
Physiker m pl ['fy:zɪkɐ] |
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Profil nt [pro'fi:l]
|
profile |
Profile nt pl [pro'fi:lə] |
Ventil nt [vɛnˈti:l]
|
valve |
Ventile nt pl [vɛnˈti:lə] |
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- -in (derived from masculine nouns)
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Freundin f (Freund m) ['frɔyndɪn]
|
friend (female) |
Freundinnen f pl ['frɔyndɪnən] |
Lehrerin f (Lehrer m) ['le:rərɪn]
|
teacher (female) |
Lehrerinnen f pl ['le:rərɪnən] |
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Diskussion f [dɪskʊ'sio:n]
|
discussion |
Diskussionen f pl [dɪskʊ'sio:nən] |
Situation f [zitua'tsio:n]
|
situation |
Situationen f pl [zitua'tsio:nən] |
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Anglizismus m [aŋgli'tsɪsmʊs] |
anglicism |
Anglizismen m pl [aŋgli'tsɪsmən] |
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Kommunist m [kɔmu'nɪst]
|
communist |
Kommunisten m pl [kɔmu'nɪstən] |
Tourist m [tu'rɪst] |
tourist |
Touristen m pl [tu'rɪstən] |
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Präsidium nt [prɛ'zi:diʊm]
|
police headquarters |
Präsidien nt pl [prɛ'zi:diən] |
Studium nt ['ʃtu:diʊm]
|
studies |
Studien nt pl ['ʃtu:diən] |
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Abhängigkeit f ['aphɛŋɪçkait] |
dependence |
Abhängigkeiten f pl ['aphɛŋɪçkaitən] |
Möglichkeit f ['mø:klɪçkait] |
possibility |
Möglichkeiten f pl ['mø:klɪçkaitən] |
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Männlein nt ['mɛnlain]
|
little man |
Männlein nt pl ['mɛnlain] |
Büchlein nt ['by:çlain]
|
little book |
Büchlein nt pl ['by:çlain] |
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Zwilling m ['tsvɪlɪŋ]
|
twin |
Zwillinge m pl ['tsvɪlɪŋə] |
Feigling m ['faiklɪŋ] |
coward |
Feiglinge m pl ['faiklɪŋə] |
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Biologe m [bio'lo:gə]
|
biologist |
Biologen m pl [bio'lo:gən] |
Psychologe m [psyço'lo:gə] |
psychologist |
Psychologen m pl [psyço'lo:gən] |
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Klima nt ['kli:ma]
|
climate |
Klimas nt pl ['kli:mas] |
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Klimata nt pl ['kli:mata] |
Thema nt ['te:ma] |
subject, topic |
Themen nt pl ['te:mən] |
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Argument nt [argu'mɛnt] |
argument |
Argumente nt pl [argu'mɛntə] |
Fundament nt [fʊnda'mɛnt]
|
foundations, basis |
Fundamente nt pl [fʊnda'mɛntə] |
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Partner m ['partnɐ] |
partner |
Partner m pl ['partnɐ] |
Rentner m ['rɛntnɐ]
|
pensioner |
Rentner m pl ['rɛntnɐ] |
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Ereignis nt [ɛɐ'aignɪs] |
event |
Ereignisse nt pl [ɛɐ'aignɪsə] |
Ergebnis nt [ɛɐ'ge:pnɪs]
|
result |
Ergebnisse nt pl [ɛɐ'ge:pnɪsə] |
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Arroganz f [aro'gants]
|
arrogance |
Arroganzen f pl [aro'gantsən] |
Intelligenz f [ɪntɛli'gɛnts]
|
intelligence |
Intelligenzen f pl [ɪntɛli'gɛntsən] |
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Auto nt ['auto]
|
car |
Autos nt pl ['autos] |
Kino nt ['ki:no] |
cinema |
Kinos nt pl ['ki:nos] |
Exceptions: |
Konto nt ['kɔnto] |
account |
Konten nt pl ['kɔntən]
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Risiko nt ['ri:ziko] |
risk |
Risiken nt pl ['ri:zikən]
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Solo nt ['zo:lo] |
solo |
Soli nt pl ['zo:li] |
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Ökonom m [øko'no:m] |
economist |
Ökonomen m pl [øko'no:mən] |
Metronom nt [metro'no:m]
|
metronome |
Metronome nt pl [metro'no:mə] |
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Lexikon nt ['lɛksikɔn] |
dictionary |
Lexika nt pl ['lɛksika] |
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Direktor m [di'rɛkto:ɐ]
|
director, head(master) |
Direktoren m pl [dirɛk'to:rən] |
Motor m ['mo:to:ɐ] |
motor |
Motoren m pl [mo:'to:rən] |
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Freundschaft f ['frɔyntʃaft]
|
friendship |
Freundschaften f pl ['frɔyntʃaftən] |
Wirtschaft f ['vɪrtʃaft]
|
economy, pub |
Wirtschaften f pl ['vɪrtʃaftən] |
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Identität f [idɛnti'tɛ:t]
|
identity |
Identitäten f pl [idɛnti'tɛ:tən] |
Qualität f [kvali'tɛ:t]
|
quality |
Qualitäten f pl [kvali'tɛ:tən] |
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Apotheke f [apo'te:kə]
|
pharmacy |
Apotheken f pl [apo'te:kən] |
Bibliothek f [biblio'te:k]
|
library |
Bibliotheken f pl [biblio'te:kən] |
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Besitztum nt [bə'zɪtstu:m]
|
property |
Besitztümer nt pl [bə'zɪtsty:mɐ] |
Irrtum m ['ɪrtu:m] |
error, mistake |
Irrtümer m pl ['ɪrty:mɐ] |
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Natur f [na'tu:ə]
|
nature |
Naturen f pl [na'tu:rən] |
Kultur f [kʊl'tu:ə]
|
culture |
Kulturen f pl [kʊl'tu:rən] |
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Praktikum nt ['praktikʊm] |
internship |
Praktika nt pl ['praktika]
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Museum nt [mu'ze:ʊm] |
museum |
Museen nt pl [mu'ze:ən] |
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Bedeutung f [bə'dɔytʊŋ]
|
meaning |
Bedeutungen f pl [bə'dɔytʊŋən] |
Enttäuschung f [ɛn'tɔyʃʊŋ] |
disappointment |
Enttäuschungen f pl [ɛn'tɔyʃʊŋən] |
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Hobby nt ['hɔbi] |
hobby |
Hobbys nt pl ['hɔbis] |
Lobby f ['lɔbi] |
lobby |
Lobbys f pl ['lɔbis] |
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Flugzeug nt ['flu:ktsɔyk]
|
(aero)plane |
Flugzeuge nt pl ['flu:ktsɔygə] |
Werkzeug nt ['vɛrktsɔyk] |
tool |
Werkzeuge nt pl ['vɛrktsɔygə] |
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