Languages › German Learn About German Plural Nouns With -n and -en endings These nouns are typically feminine Share Flipboard Email Print German Grammar History & Culture Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary By Ingrid Bauer Ingrid Bauer German Language Expert M.A., German Studies, McGill University B.A., German and French Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since 1996. She has a teaching degree and an M.A. in German studies. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 30, 2019 Making a noun plural in English is pretty easy. You usually just pop an -s or -es at the end. The German language is still straightforward, but it does have some more rules to consider, due to the fact that German nouns have genders. This is a look at plural nouns that end with -n or -en. The nouns in this group start out as mostly feminine and add either –n or –en at the end to form the plural. There are no neuter nouns in this group and neither are there any umlaut changes when forming the plural. For example: Die Frau (the woman, singular) becomes die Frauen (plural). Die Frau geht spazieren. (The woman is taking a walk.) Die Frauen gehen spazieren. (The women are taking a walk.)Nouns in this group add -en when the noun in singular ends in a consonant. For example, der Schmerz (the pain) becomes die Schmerzen (the pains). Exceptions to this rule are when the word ends in the consonants "l" or "r." Then the noun will only add -n.For example:die Kartoffel (the potato): die Kartoffeln (the potatoes) der Vetter (the cousin): die Vettern (the cousins) When nouns in this group end in a vowel, -n will be added. Exceptions to this rule are when the vowels are the diphthongs "au" or "ei."For example:die Pfau (the peacock): die Pfauen die Bäckerei (the bakery): die BäckereienAlso, nouns that end with "in" add -nen in the plural. Die Musikantin (the female musician) becomes die Musikantinnen. See the chart below for more examples of this plural noun group. Nom. stands for nominative. Acc. stands for accusative. Dat. stands for dative. Gen. stands for genitive. Plural nouns with –n/en endings Case Singular Plural nom.acc.dat.gen. die Schwester (the sister)die Schwesterder Schwesterder Schwester die Schwesterndie Schwesternden Schwesternder Schwestern nom.acc.dat.gen. der Mensch (the human)den Menschendem Menschendes Menschen die Menschendie Menschenden Menschender Menschen Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Bauer, Ingrid. "Learn About German Plural Nouns With -n and -en endings." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/german-plural-nouns-n-en-endings-1444469. Bauer, Ingrid. (2023, April 5). Learn About German Plural Nouns With -n and -en endings. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-plural-nouns-n-en-endings-1444469 Bauer, Ingrid. "Learn About German Plural Nouns With -n and -en endings." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/german-plural-nouns-n-en-endings-1444469 (accessed May 30, 2023). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies