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Leer het meervoud van zelfstandige naamwoorden in het Nederlands met regels voor uitgangen als -en, -s en -'s, bijvoorbeeld de berg → de bergen en de tafel → de tafels.
  1. The plural form of a noun usually depends on the last letter or letters of the word in the singular.
Regel (Rule)Meervoud (Plural)Voorbeeld (Example)

Woorden op 2 of 3 medeklinkers (Words ending in 2 or 3 consonants)

Woorden op -au, -ou, -ei, -ie (Words ending in -au, -ou, -ei, -ie)

Woorden die eindigen op -ei, -ij, -eu, -ui, -oe (Words ending in -ei, -ij, -eu, -ui, -oe)

-en

De berg → De bergen (The mountain → The mountains)

De klauw → De klauwen (The claw → The claws)

de trui → De truien (The sweater → The sweaters)

Woorden die eindigen op -el, -en, -em, -er (Words that end in -el, -en, -em, -er)

Woorden die eindigen op -e (Words ending in -e)

Verkleinwoorden (Diminutives)

Woorden die eindigen op -ie (Words ending in -ie)

Woorden die uit een andere taal komen (Words that come from another language)

Woorden die eindigen op -é (Words ending in -é)

-s

De tafel → De tafels (The table → The tables)

Het meisje → De meisjes (The girl → The girls)

Het kopje → De kopjes (The cup → The cups)

De familie → De families (The family → The families)

Het restaurant → De restaurants (The restaurant → The restaurants)

Het café → De cafés (The café → The cafés)

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 with a double vowel + consonant)-en (verdwijnt een klinker) ((a vowel disappears))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. After a number, a measure or a weight does not get a plural. For example: 'tien kilo'.
  2. In time indications like year, quarter, and hour, the plural is also not used. For example: 'twee jaar'.
  3. For units such as euro, cent, do not use the plural form. For example: 'vijf euro'.

Exercise 1: Meervoud van zelfstandig naamwoord

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

sessies, interesses, cafés, passies, foto's, workshops, instructeurs

1. De passie:
De ... van de deelnemers variëren van kunst tot muziek.
(The passions of the participants range from art to music.)
2. De sessie:
De verschillende ... van de cursus waren erg interessant.
(The different sessions of the course were very interesting.)
3. De instructeur:
De ... gaven duidelijke uitleg tijdens de les.
(The instructors gave clear explanations during the lesson.)
4. De workshop:
In de ... leerden we nieuwe vaardigheden en technieken.
(In the workshops we learned new skills and techniques.)
5. De foto:
De fotografen nemen prachtige ... tijdens het evenement.
(The photographers take beautiful photos during the event.)
6. De interesse:
Ik heb meerdere ....
(I have multiple interests.)
7. Het café:
Na de workshop gaan we met zen allen naar verschillende ...
(After the workshop, we will all go to different pubs.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence regarding plural forms and appropriate vocabulary about hobby lessons.

1.
The plural of 'foto' must be 'foto's', not singular.
The plural of 'foto' is 'foto's' with an apostrophe because of the long vowel.
2.
The plural of 'instructeur' is 'instructors', not 'instructeuren'.
The plural of 'privéles' is 'privélessen' in this context.
3.
'Group lessons' is the correct plural form, not 'groupless'.
The plural of 'group lesson' is 'group lessons', not singular.
4.
'Interesssen' is not a correct plural form of 'interest'.
'Interest' is usually used in singular to indicate attention.

Plural Forms of Dutch Nouns

This lesson focuses on the different ways to form plurals for Dutch nouns (zelfstandige naamwoorden). It explains the main plural endings -en, -s, and -'s and shows when each is used depending on the noun's ending.

General Rules

  • -en is used for nouns ending with two or three consonants, and for words ending in -au, -ou, -ei, -ie (e.g., de berg → de bergen, de klauw → de klauwen, de trui → de truien).
  • -s is the plural for words ending on -el, -en, -em, -er, and words ending with -e, as well as diminutives and borrowed words (e.g., de tafel → de tafels, het meisje → de meisjes, het restaurant → de restaurants).
  • -'s is added to words ending with vowels a, i, o, u, y, for example: de auto → de auto's.

Additional Patterns

  • Words ending with a double vowel plus consonant lose one vowel and add -en (e.g., de maan → de manen).
  • Words ending on -f or -s change to -v or -z before adding -en (e.g., de brief → de brieven).

Exceptions and Special Cases

When using measurements or numbers, the noun often stays in the singular form. For instance:

  • tien kilo (not kilo's)
  • vijf euro (not euro's)
  • Time expressions like jaar, kwartier, and uur also do not take a plural after numbers: twee jaar.

Key Vocabulary and Examples

  • De berg → De bergen (mountain)
  • De tafel → De tafels (table)
  • Het meisje → De meisjes (girl)
  • De auto → De auto's (car)
  • De brief → De brieven (letter)
  • De maan → De manen (moon)

Difference between English and Dutch Plurals

Unlike English, where plurals almost always end with -s, Dutch plural formation depends heavily on the endings of the noun and occasionally alters the root word itself, such as changing f to v. Dutch also often retains the singular form after numbers for measurements, currency, and time units, which is different from English usage.

Useful Dutch phrases to note:

  • het meervoud — the plural
  • zelfstandig naamwoord — noun
  • het enkelvoud — singular
  • de klauw (claw) → de klauwen
  • de foto (photo) → de foto's (note the apostrophe showing the plural)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 07:52