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Plural forms of nouns.How to change a noun to plural.

How to make Spanish noun plural

To form the plural of Spanish nouns, follow these general rules based on the final letter of the noun:

  • If a noun ends in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), add -s to the end.
    For example: casa becomes casas, amigo becomes amigos.
  • If a noun ends in a consonant, add -es to the end.
    For example: animal becomes animales, doctor becomes doctores.
  • If a noun ends in -z, change the -z to -c and add -es.
    For example: luz becomes luces, vez becomes veces.

Note the following exceptions and special cases:

  • Some nouns that end in -s or -x remain unchanged in their plural form if the last syllable is unstressed.
    For example: lunes stays lunes, crisis stays crisis.
  • Nouns ending in accented vowels -á, -é, -ó simply add -es.
    For example: sofá becomes sofás, café becomes cafés.

How are plurals formed for nouns ending in a vowel or consonant

For nouns ending in different vowels and consonants, plurals are formed according to specific rules:

Vowels:

  • If a noun ends in -a, -e, or -o, simply add -s to form the plural.
    Examples: casa -> casas, perro -> perros, niño -> niños.
  • If a noun ends in a stressed or , add -es to form the plural.
    Examples: rubí -> rubíes, tabú -> tabúes.

Consonants:

  • If a noun ends in a consonant, add -es to form the plural.
    Examples: reloj -> relojes, animal -> animales, mujer -> mujeres.
  • If a noun ends in -z, change the -z to -c and add -es.
    Examples: lápiz -> lápices, pez -> peces.

These rules help in correctly forming the plural of nouns based on their ending letters.

What changes occur with nouns ending in z

For nouns ending in z, a special rule applies when forming the plural. The z changes to c before adding es. This modification is essential to maintain the correct pronunciation and spelling of the plurals.

  • The noun pez (fish) changes to peces.
  • The noun voz (voice) changes to voces.
  • The noun luz (light) changes to luces.

The pattern can be summarized in a table for clearer understanding:

Singular Plural
pez peces
voz voces
luz luces

How are plurals formed with compound nouns

Compound nouns pose particular rules when forming their plurals. Understanding these rules is crucial for accurate usage.

For compound nouns formed by a verb and a noun, both elements usually remain unchanged unless the second element is pluralized:

  • lavaplatos (dishwasher) becomes lavaplatos (dishwashers)
  • paraguas (umbrella) becomes paraguas (umbrellas)
  • Exceptions may occur with regional variations or specific cases.

When compound nouns consist of two nouns, forming the plural typically involves changing the first element:

  • ferrocarril (railroad) becomes ferrocarriles (railroads)
  • baloncesto (basketball) becomes baloncestos (basketballs)

Some compound nouns have irregular plural forms, often shaped by historical usage or phonetic considerations:

  • sacapuntas (pencil sharpener) becomes sacapuntas (pencil sharpeners), retaining the same form.
  • Always verify with a reliable source when in doubt.

What exceptions exist to the general pluralization rule

Although standard rules exist for forming plurals, there are some exceptions:

  • For words ending in a consonant, usually, the plural is formed by adding -es. However, there are exceptions:
    • For words ending in -z, change -z to -ces:
      • lápiz becomes lápices
      • vez becomes veces
  • Nouns ending in unstressed -s or -x usually do not change in the plural form:
    • el lunes becomes los lunes
    • el tórax becomes los tórax
  • For some foreign words or abbreviations, the plural may not follow the standard rules and often remain unchanged:
    • góspel remains góspel
    • CD remains CD
  • Certain compound nouns form their plurals by pluralizing the first element:
    • el rascacielos becomes los rascacielos
    • el cumpleaños becomes los cumpleaños

Test your knowledge

Collect the sentence by selecting the correct words in order.

The tables are ready for dinner. - Translate this sentence to Spanish.

Usage Examples Plurals

  • Las mesas están listas para la cena. - The tables are ready for dinner.
  • Las mesas están en el salón. - The tables are in the living room.
  • Los museos son interesantes. - The museums are interesting.
  • Los maestros enseñan en la escuela. - The teachers teach at the school.
  • Las chicas cantan una canción. - The girls sing a song.
  • Los años pasan. - The years go by.
  • Las mariposas son bonitas. - The butterflies are pretty.
  • Las casas son grandes. - The houses are big.
  • Los días pasan rápido. - The days go by quickly.
  • Los pantalones son nuevos. - The pants are new.
  • Las tijeras están en el escritorio. - The scissors are on the desk.
  • Los títeres bailan. - The puppets dance.
  • Los cocineros preparan la comida. - The cooks prepare the food.
  • Los amigos se abrazan. - The friends are hugging.
  • Las películas son largas. - The movies are long.
  • Las enfermeras cuidan a los pacientes. - The nurses take care of the patients.
  • Las luces están encendidas. - The lights are on.
  • Las estrellas brillan en el cielo. - The stars shine in the sky.
  • Las semanas se hacen cortas. - The weeks fly by.
  • Las plantas están en el balcón. - The plants are on the balcony.