Neuter Plurals
Neuter nouns in -о change to -а, and most in -е add -та: село → села, момче → момчета.
How It Works
Neuter nouns usually end in о or е. See neuter nouns ending in о or е. Their plural depends on that last letter.
Nouns in -о: replace о with а.
- село → села (villages), писмо → писма (letters), вино → вина (wines)
- място → места (places): the я becomes е here. See the я-е alternation.
Nouns in -е: most add та.
- момче → момчета (boys), куче → кучета (dogs), море → морета (seas), кафе → кафета (coffees)
Nouns in -це and -ище: change е to а, the way nouns in о do: яйце → яйца (eggs), сърце → сърца (hearts), лице → лица (faces), училище → училища (schools), игрище → игрища (playgrounds).
Other groups. Nouns in -ие and -ме have their own patterns (упражнение → упражнения, име → имена); see neuter nouns in -ие and -ме. A few everyday nouns are irregular, such as дете → деца (children), око → очи (eyes) and цвете → цветя (flowers). See irregular plurals.
With the article. Neuter plurals ending in -а or -я take -та: селата (the villages), момчетата (the boys). Irregular очи takes -те (очите). See plural articles.
Examples (6)
- Тези села са много красиви.
These villages are very beautiful.
Word by Word: These villages are very beautiful.
- Момчетата играят футбол.
The boys are playing football.
Word by Word: Boys-the play football.
- В ресторанта няма свободни места.
There are no free seats in the restaurant.
Word by Word: In restaurant-the there-are-not free places.
Място → места: the я changes to е.
- Купих десет яйца.
I bought ten eggs.
Word by Word: I-bought ten eggs.
- Имаме две кучета.
We have two dogs.
Word by Word: We-have two dogs.
- Получих три писма.
I received three letters.
Word by Word: I-received three letters.
Common Mistakes
Using -и for a neuter noun in -е.
В класа има пет момчи.В класа има пет момчета.Many regular neuter nouns ending in е form the plural with та: момче → момчета. The irregular neuter око has очи, so -и is not limited to feminine and masculine nouns.
Adding -та to a noun in -це.
Купих десет яйцета.Купих десет яйца.Nouns in -це form the plural by changing е to а: яйце → яйца.
Keeping я in the plural of място.
Няма свободни мяста.Няма свободни места.In място the я becomes е when the plural ending is added: места.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Neuter plurals follow the neuter noun endings.
Related Patterns
- Neuter Nouns in -ие and -ме
Neuter nouns in -ие and -ме, which form their plurals differently.
Level 2 - -те/-таThe Plural Articles -те and -та
Neuter plurals in -а/-я take -та: селата, момчетата; irregular очи takes -те: очите.
Level 1 - я/е AlternationThe Я-Е Alternation
Explains място → места.
Level 3 - Irregular Plurals
Irregular neuter plurals such as дете → деца and око → очи.
Level 2 - Noun Gender
How to tell that a noun is neuter.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Neuter Plurals in Bubblegum
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