Plural Nouns
The plural ending depends on the noun: hestur → hestar, kona → konur, hús → hús, barn → börn.
How It Works
These are the nominative plural forms, used for subjects and after Þetta eru or Það eru.
Masculine.
- -ar (the most common): hestur → hestar, bíll → bílar, strákur → strákar, skóli → skólar
- -ir: gestur → gestir, staður → staðir
Feminine.
- -ur for nouns in -a: kona → konur, stelpa → stelpur, kaka → kökur
- -ir: borg → borgir, búð → búðir, ferð → ferðir
- -ar, including all nouns in -ing: sýning → sýningar, vél → vélar
Neuter. Most neuter nouns look the same in the plural: hús → hús, borð → borð, epli → epli. If the stem has an a, it changes to ö: barn → börn, land → lönd, fjall → fjöll. Neuter nouns in -a take -u: auga → augu. The a-to-ö change is explained in u-umlaut.
Irregular plurals. A few common nouns change their vowel: maður → menn, bók → bækur, fótur → fætur. See i-umlaut plurals.
Learn the plural with the noun. The groups overlap, so the safest habit is to learn three things for each new noun: its gender, its singular and its plural. Numbers from one to four also agree with the gender: tveir bílar, tvær konur, tvö hús (see numbers 1-4).
Examples (6)
- Þetta eru bílar.
These are cars.
Word by Word: This are cars.
bíll → bílar: masculine -ar.
- Tveir gestir koma í kvöld.
Two guests are coming tonight.
Word by Word: Two guests come in evening.
gestur → gestir: masculine -ir.
- Í Reykjavík eru margar búðir.
There are many shops in Reykjavík.
Word by Word: In Reykjavík are many shops.
búð → búðir: feminine -ir.
- Hér búa þrjár konur.
Three women live here.
Word by Word: Here live three women.
kona → konur: feminine -ur.
- Þrjú börn eru úti.
Three children are outside.
Word by Word: Three children are outside.
barn → börn: neuter, no ending, a becomes ö.
- Á Íslandi eru mörg fjöll.
There are many mountains in Iceland.
Word by Word: On Iceland are many mountains.
fjall → fjöll.
Common Mistakes
Adding an ending to a neuter noun.
Hér eru tvö húsar.Hér eru tvö hús.Most neuter nouns take no ending in the plural: hús → hús.
Forgetting the a-to-ö change in neuter plurals.
Þrjú barn eru úti.Þrjú börn eru úti.barn has no plural ending, but its a changes to ö: börn.
Giving a feminine noun in -a the masculine ending -ar.
Hér búa þrjár konar.Hér búa þrjár konur.Feminine nouns in -a take -ur in the plural: kona → konur.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Plurals build on noun gender.
Related Patterns
- -inn / -in / -iðThe Article at the End of the Noun
The plural article is added to these plural forms.
Level 1 - Vowel Change: a → öThe A-to-Ö Change
Explains the a-to-ö change in börn and lönd.
Level 3 - Plurals With a Vowel Change
Plurals that change the vowel, such as menn and bækur.
Level 3 - Numbers One to Four
One to four agree with the gender of the plural noun.
Level 1 - Plural Ending for Masculine Nouns: -irMasculine Nouns with -ir Plurals
More on masculine nouns like gestur → gestir.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Plural Nouns in Bubblegum
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