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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 cities are full of people. - Translate this sentence to Spanish.

Usage Examples Plurals

  • Las ciudades están llenas de gente. - The cities are full of people.
  • Las noches son frías. - The nights are cold.
  • Las sillas están en el comedor. - The chairs are in the dining room.
  • Las películas son largas. - The movies are long.
  • Las cortinas son de seda. - The curtains are made of silk.
  • Mis amigos y yo vamos al cine. - My friends and I are going to the movies.
  • Los platos están en la mesa. - The dishes are on the table.
  • Los libros están en la mesa. - The books are on the table.
  • Los regalos están debajo del árbol. - The gifts are under the tree.
  • Las montañas son altas. - The mountains are tall.
  • Las plantas están en el balcón. - The plants are on the balcony.
  • Los árboles son altos. - The trees are tall.
  • Los cucharones están en el cajón. - The ladles are in the drawer.
  • Las clases empiezan pronto. - Classes start soon.
  • Los pájaros vuelan en el cielo. - The birds fly in the sky.
  • Las puertas están cerradas. - The doors are closed.
  • Las mariposas son bonitas. - The butterflies are pretty.
  • Las semanas se hacen cortas. - The weeks fly by.
  • Las luces se apagan. - The lights go out.
  • Los días pasan rápido. - The days go by quickly.