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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form the plural of Spanish nouns like "el cuello" (neck) to "los cuellos," and special cases such as "la nariz" (nose) becoming "las narices." This lesson covers regular endings, consonant changes, and nouns with identical singular and plural forms.
  1. The article tells us whether the noun is singular or plural.
Singular (Singular) Plural (Plural)
-a, -e, -i, -o, -uEl cuello (The neck)+ "s" -> Los cuellos (The necks)
Vocal acentuadaEl pie (The foot)+ "s" -> Los pies (The foots)
ConsonanteEl corazón (The heart)+ "es" -> Los corazones (The hearts)
-zLa nariz (The nose) "c" + "es" -> Las narices (The narices)
-sEl iris (The iris)/ -> Los iris

Exceptions!

  1. Nouns ending in "-z" are irregular and change to "-c" in the plural: La nariz / Las narices
  2. Some nouns lose the accent in the plural. Example: El pulmón / Los pulmones
  3. Some nouns are the same in singular and plural. Example: El iris / Los iris

Exercise 1: El plural de los sustantivos

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

cuellos, brazos, narices, cuerpos, ojos, bocas, cabezas, orejas

1. La oreja :
Las ...
(The ears)
2. El brazo :
Los ...
(The arms)
3. La boca :
Las ...
(The mouths)
4. El cuerpo :
Los ...
(The bodies)
5. El cuello :
Los ...
(The necks)
6. La nariz :
Las ...
(The noses)
7. La cabeza :
Las ...
(The heads)
8. El ojo :
Los ...
(The eyes)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Los ______ laten rápido cuando haces ejercicio.

(The ______ beat fast when you exercise.)

2. Las ______ pueden oler diferentes aromas.

(The ______ can smell different aromas.)

3. Los ______ están cansados después de caminar mucho.

(The ______ are tired after walking a lot.)

4. Las ______ son necesarias en la sala de espera.

(The ______ are necessary in the waiting room.)

5. Los ______ ayudan a respirar.

(The ______ help you breathe.)

6. Los ______ protegen los ojos y no cambian en plural.

(The ______ protect the eyes and do not change in plural.)

Understanding the Plural Form of Spanish Nouns

This lesson focuses on recognizing and forming the plural of Spanish nouns, an essential skill for everyday communication. Learning how nouns change from singular to plural helps you express more than one person, object, or idea clearly.

Basic Plural Formation Rules

In Spanish, the article (el, la, los, las) usually indicates whether a noun is singular or plural.

  • Nouns ending in vowels (a, e, i, o, u): Add an "s" to make them plural.
    Example: El cuello → Los cuellos
  • Nouns ending in a stressed vowel: Also add "s".
    Example: El pie → Los pies
  • Nouns ending in a consonant: Add "es".
    Example: El corazón → Los corazones
  • Nouns ending in -z: Change the "z" to "c" and add "es".
    Example: La nariz → Las narices
  • Nouns ending in -s that are unstressed on the last syllable: Usually remain the same in plural.
    Example: El iris → Los iris

Special Considerations

Some nouns lose their accent in the plural form.

  • Example: El pulmón → Los pulmones

Remember that the article changes accordingly, signaling the noun's number and gender.

Useful Vocabulary

  • Singular: el cuello (neck), el pie (foot), el corazón (heart), la nariz (nose), el iris (iris)
  • Plural: los cuellos, los pies, los corazones, las narices, los iris

Comparing English and Spanish Plurals

Unlike English, which typically adds "-s" or "-es" for plurals, Spanish plurals depend on the ending of the noun and can involve changes in spelling, such as -z to -ces. Articles change to reflect singular or plural as well, which is crucial for agreement in sentences.

Here are some useful Spanish words and their English equivalents emphasizing plural forms:

  • El libro / Los libros — The book / The books
  • La casa / Las casas — The house / The houses
  • El lápiz / Los lápices — The pencil / The pencils
  • El pez / Los peces — The fish / The fish (note irregular plural)

Understanding these patterns will help you build vocabulary and improve your grammatical accuracy.

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