Plural in -ове
Plural Ending -ове
Most short masculine nouns add -ове: град → градове (cities), син → синове (sons).
How It Works
Masculine nouns of one syllable usually form the plural with -ове:
- град → градове (cities), стол → столове (chairs), син → синове (sons)
- плод → плодове (fruits), хляб → хлябове (loaves of bread), дом → домове (homes)
After й the ending is -еве, and the й disappears: брой → броеве (numbers, issues), бой → боеве (battles). A few nouns also allow -ове: чай → чаеве or чайове (teas).
я becomes е. In some nouns the я changes to е when the ending is added: сняг → снегове (snows), бряг → брегове (shores). See the я-е alternation.
After numbers. When you count things with a number or with колко, a masculine noun that is not a person takes the count form, which ends in а or я: два града (two cities), пет стола (five chairs). The -ове plural is used everywhere else: много градове (many cities), тези столове (these chairs).
Exceptions. Not every short masculine noun takes -ове. Some take -и (зъб → зъби, гост → гости), some take -е (мъж → мъже, кон → коне), and some are irregular (ден → дни, брат → братя). Learn these with the noun. See irregular plurals. Nouns of two or more syllables normally take -и.
To say the, add -те: градовете (the cities).
Examples (6)
- В България има много красиви градове.
There are many beautiful cities in Bulgaria.
Word by Word: In Bulgaria there-are many beautiful cities.
- Столовете са в кухнята.
The chairs are in the kitchen.
Word by Word: Chairs-the are in kitchen-the.
- Те имат двама синове.
They have two sons.
Word by Word: They have two sons.
Male people usually keep the ordinary plural after a number, and the number takes its form for men: двама. Син is an exception: двама сина is also correct.
- Купих плодове от пазара.
I bought fruit at the market.
Word by Word: I-bought fruits from market-the.
- Колко града има в областта?
How many towns are there in the region?
Word by Word: How-many towns there-are in region-the?
After колко, the count form града is used instead of градове.
- Чета старите броеве на списанието.
I am reading the old issues of the magazine.
Word by Word: I-read old-the issues of magazine-the.
Брой ends in й, so its plural is броеве.
Common Mistakes
Using -и with a one-syllable masculine noun that takes -ове.
В хола има четири столи.В хола има четири стола.Стол takes -ове: столове. After a number such as четири, use the count form стола.
Using the -ове plural right after a number.
Посетихме два градове.Посетихме два града.After a number, a masculine noun that is not a person takes the count form: два града. Градове is used without a number: много градове.
Keeping й before the plural ending.
Имам всички бройове на списанието.Имам всички броеве на списанието.After й the ending is -еве, and the й is dropped: брой → броеве.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The plural in -ове needs masculine nouns.
Related Patterns
- Plural in -иPlural Ending -и
The ending for masculine nouns of two or more syllables and for feminine nouns.
Level 1 - The Count Form
The form that replaces -ове after numbers: два града.
Level 2 - -те/-таThe Plural Articles -те and -та
Adds the to the plural: градовете.
Level 1 - Irregular Plurals
Short masculine nouns with irregular plurals such as ден → дни.
Level 2 - я/е AlternationThe Я-Е Alternation
Explains сняг → снегове and бряг → брегове.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Plural in -ове in Bubblegum
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