Plural Forms of Nouns
If a noun ends in a vowel, make it plural by adding -s.
- libro: libros
(libro + s)
pluma: plumas
(pluma + s)
chico: chicos
(chico + s)
señora: señoras
(señora + s)
The definite articles (el, la) also change in the plural form. They become "los" and "las." The definite articles will be covered in depth in the next lesson.
- el libro: los libros
la pluma: las plumas
el chico: los chicos
la señora: las señoras
If a noun ends in a consonant, make it plural by adding -es.
- el borrador: los borradores
(borrador + es)
la universidad: las universidades
(universidad + es)
el profesor: los profesores
(profesor + es)
la ciudad: las ciudades
(ciudad + es)
If a noun ends in -ión, add -es and drop the written accent.
- el avión: los aviones
la conversación: las conversaciones
la sección: las secciones
la televisión: las televisiones
Note: You may wonder why "avión" isn't feminine. Notice that it doesn't qualify for our rule which says that all nouns ending in -ción and sión are feminine.
If a noun ends in -z, add -es and change the z to c.
- el lápiz: los lápices
la voz: las voces
el tapiz: los tapices
la actriz: las actrices
When the plural refers to two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural is used.
- 2 perros + 6 perras = 8 perros (not perras)
1 gato + 8 gatas = 9 gatos (not gatas)
A few nouns are "compound nouns," that is, they are formed by combining two words into one. (Example: abre + latas = abrelatas / open + cans = can opener) These compound nouns are always masculine, and the plural is formed by changing the "el" to "los."
- el abrelatas
los abrelatas
el paraguas
los paraguas
Let's review the rules for making nouns plural.
- If a noun ends in a vowel, simply add -s.
- If a noun ends in a consonant, simply add -es.
- If a noun ends in a -z, change the z to c before adding -es.
- If a noun ends in ión, drop the written accent before adding -es.
- If the plural refers to a mixed group, use the masculine.
- For compound nouns, change "el" to "los".
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