Study Spanish - Plural Forms of Nouns

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)

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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)

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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

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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".