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Plural forms of nouns

While some nouns follow simple patterns in the formation of their plural forms, most nouns do not. It is best therefore, to memorize these forms along with the gender of the noun. There are nine ways of forming the plural in German . Examples:

Some discernible plural forms

All words ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, and -schaft (all of which are feminine), add an -en to their plural forms. Examples:

Nouns ending in -in and referring to female persons add -nen for their plural. Examples:

Loan words ending in -o add an -s:

Some words that only exist in the plural

die Leute (people), Möbel (furniture), Eltern (parents), Geschwister (siblings)