Plural in Dutch
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HideDefinition and usage of the Dutch plural
The plural noun is used when people want to describe more than one object, person, animal, event, place or idea. The following endings are used for plural nouns in Dutch:
- '-en'
- '-s'
- '-'s'
- '-eren'
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Plural with '-en'
Most nouns get '-en' at the ending to form the plural. The following rule is used to form plural nouns:
noun + en
Examples:
| Noun | Plural noun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Het bord (the plate) | De borden (the plates) | Ik zet de borden in de kast. | I put the plates in the cupboard. |
| De fiets (the bike) | De fietsen (the bikes) | Er staan fietsen op straat. | There are bikes on the street. |
| De dief (the thief) | De dieven (the thieves) | Zij zijn dieven. | They are thieves. |
| De mok (the mug) | De mokken (the mugs) | Wij gaan meer mokken kopen. | We are going to buy more mugs. |
Mind the following rules when forming the plural nouns:
1. Short vowels stay short and long vowels stay long.
Example: kop (mug) - koppen (mugs)
2. In the plural form, the double vowel from the last syllabe disappears.
Example: heer (sir) - heren (sirs)
3. If a singular noun ends in 'f' or 's', these consonants change into 'v' or 'z'.
Example: reus (giant) - reuzen (giants)
Plural with '-s'
Besides in '-en' plural nouns can also end in '-s.
noun + s
Nouns that end in '–el', '-em', '-en', '-er', '-je' mostly end in '-s'. The table below shows some examples:
| Noun | Plural noun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Het hondje (the little dog) | De hondjes (the little dogs) | Hij heeft drie hondjes. | He has three little dogs. |
| De kalender (the calendar) | De kalenders (the calendars) | Kijk even naar die kalenders. | Have a look at those calendars. |
| De kogel (the bullet) | De kogels (the bullets) | Hij heeft geen kogels. | He ran out of bullets. |
| Het meisje (the girl) | De meisjes (the girls) | Meisjes letten jullie op? | Girls do you pay attention? |
Plural with apostrophe '-s'
Nouns that end in the single vowels '–a', '-i', '-o', '-u', '-y' get a '-'s' when forming the plural. The apostrophe is added to keep the long single vowel at the end long.
Take a look at the table below to see how the plural with '-'s' is formed:
| Noun | Plural noun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| De baby (the baby) | De baby's (the babies) | Zij past op drie baby's. | She babysits three babies. |
| De auto (the cars) | De auto's (the cars) | De auto's rijden snel. | The cars drive fast. |
| De pinda (the peanut) | De pinda's (the peanuts) | Ik eet veel pinda's. | I eat a lot of peanuts. |
| De hobby (the hobby) | De hobby's (the hobbies) | Wij hebben veel hobby's. | We have a lot of hobbies. |
Other plural forms of Dutch nouns
1. '-heid'
Nouns that end in '-heid' in the single form, end in '– heden' in the plural.
Examples:
- De beroemdheid (the celebrity) - de beroemdheden (the celebrities)
- De gruwelijkheid (the horror) - de gruwelijkheden (the horrors)
- De minderheid (the minority) - de minderheden (the minorities)
2. '-eren'
Some plural nouns end in –eren.
Examples:
- Het lied (the song) – de liederen (the songs)
- Het ei (the egg) - de eieren (the eggs)
- Het blad (the leaf) - de bladeren (the leafs)
3. '-a'
Nouns that end in the Latin suffix '–um', get an ending in '-a' in the plural.
Examples:
- Het podium (the stage) - de podia (the stages)
- Het centrum (the centre) – de centra (the centres)
- Het museum (the museum) - de musea (the museums)
Train your skills by doing exercises below!
Exercises
Exercise Dutch plural 1
Exercise Dutch plural 2
Exercises
Exercise Dutch plural 1
Exercise Dutch plural 2
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Hello
My name is Anco Peeters,. I am born in The Netherlands and a native speaker of the Dutch language..
I started my career as a schoolteacher and as a gymnastic instructor.
Later I started working in the ICT sector. Now I am a freelance instructor and consultant who teaches mainly networking and telephony.
I am also an NLP Practitioner
My hobbies are: Yoga, traveling, fitness, walking, meeting people
I would love to teach the Dutch language in an informal way with the accent on learning to speak the language. Grammar is also important. We can talk about any topic. I would like to help you making progress and have a lot of experience in creating an individual plan for every student based on your needs
Would love to see you for a trial lesson
Kind regards
Anco
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Hi there
My name is Lieneke Jansen and I am 56 years old.
I am from a small country in Europe called the Netherlands
I am a TEFL certified English language coach with experience in teaching both children and adults.
Although I am a non-native speaker, I have learned English since high school, and practicing it on a daily basis from then on.
I have over 30 years of working experience in several international companies on a high professional work and think level.
I am specialised in business conversation and practicing speaking skills on every possible level
Looking forward to meet you as my student.
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