Plural of noun

Meervoud van zelfstandig naamwoord


Het meervoud van zelfstandige naamwoorden heeft verschillende vormen zoals -en, -s, en -'s.

(The plural of nouns has different forms such as -en, -s, en -'s.)

How to choose the Dutch plural ending (quick decision guide)

  • Step 1: Look at the last letters of the singular noun.

  • Step 2: Pick the plural ending: -en, -s, or -’s.

  • Step 3: Check if the spelling must change (vowel drops, f→v, s→z).

What the word ends with Plural ending Example
-el, -en, -em, -er (very common) -s

de tafel → de tafels

-e and diminutives (-je) -s

het meisje → de meisjes

het kopje → de kopjes

-a, -i, -o, -u, -y (final vowel) -’s

de auto → de auto’s

Most other endings (incl. 2–3 consonants at the end) -en

de berg → de bergen

au, ou, ei, ie and -ei/-ij/-eu/-ui/-oe -en

de klauw → de klauwen

de trui → de truien

Spelling changes you must watch for

  • Long vowel (aa/ee/oo/uu) + consonant + -enone vowel disappears.

    Rule: maanmanen (aa → a)

  • Words ending in -f or -s often change in the plural:

    f → v + en: briefbrieven

    s → z + en: huishuizen

    Self-check: if the plural sounds “softer”, Dutch often writes v or z.

-s, -en, -’s: common learner mistakes (and fixes)

  • -’s is not “English plural”. It is mainly for nouns ending in a/i/o/u/y.

    Correct: de auto → de auto’s

    Wrong: de tafel → de tafel’s

  • Loanwords often take -s (but Dutch has preferences).

    Common: het restaurant → de restaurants

    Also common: het café → de cafés

  • Some words stay the same in practice. Example: feedback is usually not pluralized in everyday Dutch.

    Natural: drie feedback (informal) / drie reacties (more standard)

No plural after numbers: when Dutch keeps the noun singular

  • Measures and weight: no plural after a number.

    tien kilo (not tien kilo’s)

  • Time duration words: jaar, kwartier, uur often stay singular after a number.

    twee jaar, een kwartier, twee uur

  • Money units: euro, cent stay singular after a number.

    vijf euro, twintig cent

Tip: Think of these as “units” (like labels) after a number.

Fast self-check before you speak or write

  1. Does the noun end in -el/-en/-em/-er or -e? → usually -s.

  2. Does it end in a/i/o/u/y? → use -’s.

  3. Otherwise → try -en and check spelling changes (vowel drop, f→v, s→z).

  4. Is there a number + unit (euro/uur/kilo/jaar)? → keep the unit singular.

Mini examples (work-style, adult context)

  • Ik heb drie cursussen deze maand. (cursus → cursussen)

  • We plannen twee workshops in juni. (workshop → workshops)

  • De brieven liggen op tafel. (brief → brieven)

  • Het project duurt twee uur. (no plural after a number)

  • Het kost vijftig euro. (no plural after a number)

  1. The plural form of a noun usually depends on the last letter or last letters of the word in the singular.
Regel (Rule)Meervoud (Plural)Voorbeeld (Example)

Woorden op 2 of 3 medeklinkers (Words with 2 or 3 consonants at the end)

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 ending 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 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 unit of measure or a weight does not take a plural. For example: 'tien kilo'.
  2. With time expressions such as jaar, kwartier, and uur, no plural is used either. For example: 'twee jaar'.
  3. For units such as euro, cent you do not use a plural. For example: 'vijf euro'.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Ik heb me ingeschreven voor twee ____ fotografie bij het buurthuis.

I have signed up for two ____ photography at the community center.

2. Na de workshop stuurde de fotograaf drie ____ naar de groep.

After the workshop, the photographer sent three ____ to the group.

3. Op dinsdagavond geven ze twee ____ in het lokale café.

On Tuesday evening, they offer two ____ in the local café.

4. Ik heb al vijf ____ betaald voor de eerste sessie.

I have already paid five ____ for the first session.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences into the plural (put the noun and the rest of the sentence into the plural). Example: De tafel is schoon. → De tafels zijn schoon.

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Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. De berg is hoog.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De bergen zijn hoog.
    (The mountains are high.)
  2. De trui is warm.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De truien zijn warm.
    (The sweaters are warm.)
  3. De tafel staat in de vergaderruimte.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De tafels staan in de vergaderruimte.
    (The tables are in the meeting room.)
  4. Het meisje werkt in het restaurant.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    De meisjes werken in het restaurant.
    (The girls work in the restaurant.)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 07/05/2026 23:11