10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form singular and plural Dutch nouns like 'de berg' (the mountain) and 'de bergen' (the mountains), including plural rules for endings such as -en, -s, and changes like 'de auto' to 'de auto's'.
  1. Nouns usually have a plural form and a diminutive form.
  2. A noun is usually accompanied by an article.
  3. A noun can be a proper noun.
Regel (Rule)Meervoud (Plural)Voorbeeld (Example)
Woorden op 2 of 3 medeklinkers (Words ending in 2 or 3 consonants)-enDe berg → De bergen (The mountain → The mountains)
Woorden op -au, -ou, -ei, -ie (Words ending in -au, -ou, -ei, -ie)-enDe klauw → De klauwen (The claw → The claws)
Woorden op -el, -en, -em, -er (Words ending in -el, -en, -em, -er)-sDe tafel → De tafels (The table → The tables)
Verkleinwoorden (Diminutives)-sHet kopje → De kopjes (The diminutive → The diminutives)
Woorden op -a, -i, -o, -u, -y (Words ending in -a, -i, -o, -u, -y)-’sDe auto → De auto's (The car → The cars)
Woorden op een dubbele klinker + medeklinker (Words ending in a double vowel + consonant)-en (verdwijnt een klinker)De maan → De manen (The moon → The moons)
Woorden op -f of -s (Words ending in -f or -s)-v of -z + enDe brief → De brieven (The letter → The letters)

Exceptions!

  1. Some words double the consonant in the plural.

Exercise 1: Het zelfstandig naamwoord (enkelvoud & meervoud)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

steden, boeken, baby’s, vrouwen, huizen, talen, programma’s, brieven

1. Brief:
De ... zijn al verstuurd.
(The letters have already been sent.)
2. Stad:
Er zijn veel ... in Nederland.
(There are many cities in the Netherlands.)
3. Taal:
Welke ... spreken jullie?
(Which languages do you speak?)
4. Huis:
Er staan veel ... in deze straat.
(There are many houses in this street.)
5. Boek:
Ik lees graag dikke ....
(I like to read thick books.)
6. Programma:
De ... op tv zijn interessant.
(The programmes on TV are interesting.)
7. Baby:
Mijn buurvrouw heeft twee ....
(My neighbour has two babies.)
8. Vrouw:
De ... werken samen in het bedrijf.
(The women work together in the company.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik heb ___ auto geparkeerd bij de winkel.

(I parked ___ car at the store.)

2. ___ jongen komt uit Nederland.

(___ boy comes from the Netherlands.)

3. ___ huis is groot en wit.

(___ house is big and white.)

4. Ik zie ___ meisje in het park.

(I see ___ girl in the park.)

5. ___ zon is vandaag fel.

(___ sun is bright today.)

6. Hij leest ___ boek op het station.

(He is reading ___ book at the station.)

Nouns in Dutch: Singular and Plural Forms

This lesson introduces you to Dutch nouns, focusing on how to form singular and plural words. Nouns ("zelfstandig naamwoorden") name people, animals, or things, such as de stad (the city), het boek (the book), and de taal (the language). Understanding how to correctly use singular and plural nouns is essential for forming clear and correct sentences.

Plural Formation Rules

In Dutch, nouns typically have both plural and diminutive forms. The plural form often depends on the ending of the singular noun. Here are some important patterns:

  • Words ending with two or three consonants: add -en
    Example: De berg → De bergen
  • Words ending with -au, -ou, -ei, -ie: add -en
    Example: De klauw → De klauwen
  • Words ending with -el, -en, -em, -er: add -s
    Example: De tafel → De tafels
  • Diminutive words: add -s
    Example: Het kopje → De kopjes
  • Words ending with vowels like -a, -i, -o, -u, -y: add apostrophe + s (-'s)
    Example: De auto → De auto's
  • Words ending with a double vowel + consonant: add -en, but usually one vowel disappears
    Example: De maan → De manen
  • Words ending with -f or -s: change to -v or -z + en
    Example: De brief → De brieven

Additional Key Points About Dutch Nouns

Most nouns are accompanied by an article ("lidwoord") such as de (common gender) or het (neuter gender). Some nouns, especially proper names ("eigennamen"), follow special usage rules.

In plural forms, sometimes consonants are doubled to maintain pronunciation and word clarity.

Comparison with English

Unlike English, which typically forms the plural by simply adding -s or -es, Dutch pluralization involves more diverse endings and sometimes spelling changes inside the word. For example, English adds s to make "car" plural as "cars," whereas Dutch requires adding -'s to de auto making de auto's. Similarly, words ending in -f can change that consonant before pluralizing in Dutch (brief → brieven), while English usually just adds s (brief → briefs).

Useful Dutch Words and Phrases Related to Nouns

  • zelfstandig naamwoord – noun
  • enkelvoud – singular form
  • meervoud – plural form
  • lidwoord – article
  • verkleinwoord – diminutive form
  • de – definite article for common gender nouns
  • het – definite article for neuter gender nouns
  • een – indefinite article meaning "a" or "an"

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 01:52