Plural endings of nouns in German grammar
German plurals are created by adding -n/en, -e, -r/-er, -s. Some nouns are the same in singular and plural, e.g.  die Löffel, while others are mostly used in singular, e.g. die Milch, or in plural, e.g. die Eltern.

The ending of a noun gives us a hint as to which plural ending to use.

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The list below gives an overview of word endings and their typical plural endings. Note that there are many exceptions to these rules.

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Adding -n/-en
Here is a list of German noun endings that form the plural with -n or -en:

• Masculine nouns ending in -e, -ent, and, -ant, -ist, -or

Example: der Student - die Studenten

• Feminine nouns ending in -e, -ion, -ik, -ness, -keit, -schaft, -tät, -ung

Example: die Station - die Stationen

• Feminine nouns ending in -in, the n is doubled

Example: die Lehrerin - die Lehrerinnen

• The endings -ma, -um, -us in foreign words are usually replaced by -en

Example: das Thema - die Themen

Adding -e
Here is a list of German noun endings that form the plural with -e:

• Masculine nouns ending in -eur, -ich, -ier, -ig, -ling, -ör.

Example: der Friseur - die Friseure

• Many single-syllable feminine nouns:

Example: die Hand - die Hände
an umlaut is added to the plural form

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Adding -r/-er
Here is a list of German noun endings that form the plural with -r or -er:

• Many monosyllabic neutral nouns.

Example: das Wort - die Wörter
an umlaut is often added to the plural form

Important: Feminine nouns never form the plural with -r/-er.

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Adding -s
Here is a list of German nouns that form the plural with -s:

• Masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns ending in -a, -i, -o, -u, -y.

Example: der Opa - die Opas, das Auto - die Autos, die Mutti - die Muttis, das Hobby - die Hobbys

• Family names

Beispiel: die Müllers 

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No plural ending

Here is a list of German noun endings that do not change to plural form:

• Masculine nouns ending in -el, -en, -er.

Example: der Löffel - die Löffel

• Neutral nouns with the endings -chen, -lein.

Example: das Mädchen - die Mädchen

 

Singular or plural

• Most nouns can be used in both singular and plural.

Example: der Geldschein - die Geldscheine,  die Münze - die Münzen

• Some nouns are only used in the singular.

Example: das Geld, der Hunger, die Milch

• Some nouns are only used in the plural.

Example: die Eltern, die Leute, die Ferien

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