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This lesson explains how to form the plural of Dutch nouns, focusing on endings like -en (de berg → de bergen), -s (de tafel → de tafels), and -'s (de auto → de auto's). You will learn which plural suffixes to use based on word endings to speak and write correctly.
  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 'instructeurs', not 'instructeuren'.
The plural of 'privéles' is 'privélessen' in this context.
3.
'Groepslessen' is the correct plural form, not 'groepsless'.
The plural of 'groepsles' is 'groepslessen', not singular.
4.
'Interesssen' is not a correct plural form of 'interesse'.
'Interesse' is usually used in the singular to indicate interest.

Plural Forms of Dutch Nouns

This lesson explains how to form plurals of Dutch nouns, a crucial topic for A2 level learners. Dutch nouns can take different plural endings depending on their singular form, often guided by the word's ending letters.

Common Plural Endings

  • -en: Used for many nouns, especially those ending with two or three consonants or vowels like -au, -ou, -ei, -ie.
    Examples: De berg → De bergen, De klauw → De klauwen, De trui → De truien
  • -s: Applied to words ending in -el, -en, -em, -er, and also to diminutives and loanwords.
    Examples: De tafel → De tafels, Het meisje → De meisjes, Het kopje → De kopjes, De familie → De families, Het restaurant → De restaurants, Het café → De cafés
  • -'s: Used for words ending in vowels a, i, o, u, y.
    Example: De auto → De auto's
  • -en with vowel change: In some nouns ending with a double vowel plus a consonant, the plural involves dropping a vowel.
    Example: De maan → De manen
  • Change of final consonant + -en: Certain nouns ending in -f or -s change these consonants to -v or -z before adding -en.
    Example: De brief → De brieven

Special Plural Rules

Note that after numbers, units of measure, time, and currency typically remain singular:

  • Units and weights: tien kilo (ten kilos), not kilo's
  • Time terms: twee jaar (two years), kwartier (quarter hour), uur (hour) stay singular
  • Currencies: vijf euro (five euros), cent stay singular

Key Highlights

  • Look at the word’s ending to determine the plural ending.
  • Important endings are -en, -s, and -'s, with some vowel or consonant changes.
  • Pluralization rules have exceptions and special cases, so memorizing common patterns helps.

Differences and Useful Dutch-English Notes

Unlike English, Dutch plurals often depend strongly on the ending of the singular noun. English typically adds -s or -es, but Dutch includes more variation like changing -f to -v, using apostrophes, or altering vowels.

Useful phrases:
Het enkelvoud = the singular
Het meervoud = the plural
Zelfstandig naamwoord = noun

Pay attention to apostrophes in Dutch plurals like foto's (photos), which signal a plural after a vowel ending, a feature less common in English.

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 02/09/2025 01:44