German for Beginners: Forming Plurals with -s and -es
Learn when German nouns take -s or -es in the plural, practise common everyday nouns, and avoid confusing plural endings with articles.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
German plurals are not formed in one single way. Many nouns add -e, -er, -en or nothing at all, and some change their vowel. However, a useful group of common nouns forms the plural with -s, and a smaller group with -es. This lesson focuses only on those two endings. You will learn which nouns typically take them, how they sound, and how to use them in simple sentences. Remember that the plural is about number, not about the definite or indefinite article: der, die and das tell you the gender, while the plural ending tells you there is more than one.
By the end, you can…
- form the plural of common German nouns by adding -s or -es.
- recognise nouns that typically take -s or -es in the plural.
- use plural nouns in simple sentences with correct articles.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
das Auto – die Autos
the car – the cars
das OW-toh – dee OW-tohs
Very common loanword; plural always with -s.
das Hotel – die Hotels
the hotel – the hotels
das hoh-TEL – dee hoh-TELS
Loanword from French; plural with -s, not -e.
das Baby – die Babys
the baby – the babies
das BAY-bee – dee BAY-bees
English loanword ending in -y; plural simply adds -s.
der Bus – die Busse
the bus – the buses
dair boos – dee BOOS-uh
Native German noun ending in -s; the plural adds -se, pronounced as a separate syllable.
das Haus – die Häuser
the house – the houses
das hows – dee HOY-zer
Contrast example: this common noun does not take -s; it takes -er and umlaut.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Nouns that take -s in the plural are mostly loanwords from English, French or other languages. They do not change their vowel and they do not add an umlaut. Examples: das Auto → die Autos, das Hotel → die Hotels, das Baby → die Babys, das Handy → die Handys. In the plural, the definite article is always die, whatever the gender of the singular noun. So der Park → die Parks, die Pizza → die Pizzas, das Café → die Cafés. The -s is pronounced like the English s in 'bus', not like German sch.
When to use it
Use -s mainly when the noun is a loanword: das Auto → die Autos, das Hotel → die Hotels, das Handy → die Handys. A few short native nouns also take -s, for example der Park → die Parks. When a native German noun ends in -s, -z or -x, the plural usually adds -e (written -se after -s): der Bus → die Busse, der Kuss → die Küsse, das Taxi → die Taxis. Some of these nouns also take an umlaut: das Glas → die Gläser, der Kuss → die Küsse. For beginners, the safest rule is: loanword → -s; short native noun ending in s/z/x → -e/-se, often with umlaut. Always learn the plural together with the noun, for example 'das Auto, die Autos'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie viele Autos hast du?
How many cars do you have?vee FEEL-uh OW-tohs hast dooIch habe zwei Autos. Und du?
I have two cars. And you?ikh HAH-buh tsvy OW-tohs. oont dooIch habe keine Autos, aber ich habe zwei Fahrräder.
I don't have any cars, but I have two bicycles.ikh HAH-buh KY-nuh OW-tohs, AH-ber ikh HAH-buh tsvy FAHR-ray-derFahrräder sind auch gut. Die Busse sind heute voll.
Bicycles are good too. The buses are full today.FAHR-ray-der zint owkh goot. dee BOOS-uh zint HOY-tuh folA little context goes a long way
In standard German, plural nouns always use die, even if the singular noun is der or das. In southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, some plural forms and pronunciations differ slightly, but the -s plural for loanwords is widely understood. When in doubt, learn the plural form as part of the vocabulary entry.
One thing to watch for
Using -s for every German noun, for example saying 'die Hauses' or 'die Manns'.
Try this instead: Only a limited group of nouns takes -s. Native German nouns usually take other endings: das Haus → die Häuser, der Mann → die Männer. Learn each noun with its plural, for example 'das Haus, die Häuser'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1What is the plural of 'das Hotel'?
Show a sample answer
die Hotels
Hotel is a loanword, so it takes -s. The plural article is always die.
2What is the plural of 'der Bus'?
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die Busse
Bus ends in -s, so the plural adds -se and is pronounced with an extra syllable. 'Die Buse' would be wrong.
3Which article do you use with a plural noun: der, die or das?
Show a sample answer
die
All plural nouns take die in the nominative and accusative, regardless of the singular gender. For example: der Park → die Parks, das Auto → die Autos.
Learn each German noun together with its plural form. Use -s mainly for loanwords, and -es or -se for short native nouns ending in s, z or x. The plural article is always die.
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