In Dutch, most plural nouns take one of two endings: -en or -s. While some words only allow one of these endings, a small number of nouns can take both.

Common Plural Endings: -en and -s

1. Plural Ending: -en

The most frequently used plural ending in Dutch is -en. The general rule is simple:

Singular noun + en

However, some spelling adjustments are needed to maintain proper pronunciation.

Spelling Adjustments for -en Plurals

1⃣ Preserve Vowel Length

• Short vowels remain short, and long vowels stay long in both singular and plural forms.

2⃣ Avoid Open Double Vowels

• When a singular noun ends with a double vowel, its plural form must avoid an “open” double vowel.

3⃣ Softening Hard Final Sounds

• If a noun ends in -f or -s, it often changes to -v or -z in the plural.

2. Plural Ending: -s

Some nouns form their plural by simply adding -s.

Singular noun + s

Using an Apostrophe in -s Plurals

• If a noun ends in a single a, i, o, u, or y, an apostrophe is added before -s to maintain correct pronunciation.SingularPluralEnglish Translationde autode auto’sthe car(s)het menude menu’sthe menu(s)

Exception: Words ending in a mute -e (like “gebergte”) do not need an apostrophe.

Which Nouns Take -s Instead of -en?

Most Dutch nouns default to -en, but -s is used in specific cases:

Words ending in a single vowel
Words with unstressed vowel combinations
Words with unstressed endings like -el, -en, -er, -um
Titles or professions ending in -oor or -ier
Foreign words that use -s plurals in their original language
Letters and acronyms

Examples of -s Plurals by Category

Uncommon Plural Endings: -eren and -a

While -en and -s are the most frequent, a few words use alternative plural endings.

1. Plurals Ending in -eren

Some words take -eren instead of -en:

2. Plurals Ending in -a

A small group of words, mostly borrowed from Latin or Greek, take -a in the plural.

Summary: When to Use -s vs. -en

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to form Dutch plurals correctly!