The Trema in Loanword Plurals: -ë

Level 4

Some loanwords make their plural with -en: Formulaire → Formulairen, Cours → Coursen. When the n-rule drops that n, the plural would look like the singular, so the last e gets a trema: Formulairë fannen, zwee Coursë beleeën.

How It Works

1. Why the trema is needed
In French words like Formulaire, the final e is silent. The plural Formulairen has a spoken e. When the n drops, Formulaire would look exactly like the singular again. So the plural e is written ë:

  • d'Formulairen (the forms), but Formulairë fannen (to find forms)
  • Kopien, but Kopië maachen (to make copies)
  • Batterien, but Batterië sammelen (to collect batteries)

2. When it could be another word
The trema also appears when the n-less plural would look like a different word:

  • ee Cours (a course) – zwee Coursen, but zwee Coursë beleeën. Without the trema, Course would be a different word, a race.

3. Words ending in -é
Words that end in é add -en in the plural. When the n drops, ë comes after the é:

  • Vill Caféen hunn owes op. but Déi meescht Caféë sinn Hellegowend zou.

Words that end in -ée add -ën, so the ë is there with or without the n: d'Muséeën, Muséeë besichen. Pompjee works the same way: d'Pompjeeën. See French loanwords.

4. Only when the n drops
Check the next word. The n stays before a vowel, before d, h, n, t and z, and before punctuation. Then there is no trema: Ech muss nach d'Formulairen ausfëllen. Only before other consonants does the n drop, and the ë appears.

5. English words too
The same rule works for English loanwords: vill Liken, but Likë kréien. See English loanwords.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech muss nach d'Formulairen ausfëllen.

    I still have to fill in the forms.

    Before the vowel of ausfëllen the n stays, so there is no trema.

  2. Déi néideg Formulairë fannt Dir op eiser Internetsäit.

    You will find the forms you need on our website.

    Before f the n drops, so the e is written ë.

  3. Ech wëll dëst Joer zwee Coursë beleeën.

    I want to take two courses this year.

    Without the trema, Course would mean a race.

  4. Déi meescht Caféë sinn Hellegowend zou.

    Most cafés are closed on Christmas Eve.

    Café adds -en; when the n drops, ë follows the é.

  5. Ech hunn e puer Kopië gemaach.

    I made a few copies.

  6. Hire Post huet vill Likë kritt.

    Her post got a lot of likes.

    The English loanword Like follows the same rule.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the plural without the trema when the n drops.

    Ech muss nach zwou Kopie maachen.
    Ech muss nach zwou Kopië maachen.

    Without the ë, Kopie looks like the singular. The trema shows that it is plural and that the e is pronounced.

  • Keeping the n before a consonant.

    Déi néideg Formulairen fannt Dir op eiser Internetsäit.
    Déi néideg Formulairë fannt Dir op eiser Internetsäit.

    Fannt starts with f, so the n-rule drops the n, and the e becomes ë.

  • Adding a trema when the n is written.

    Ech muss nach d'Formulairën ausfëllen.
    Ech muss nach d'Formulairen ausfëllen.

    The ë is only needed when the n drops. When the n is written, the plural is already clear.

How It Connects

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The Trema in Loanword Plurals: -ëLevel 4

Learn This First

Before The Trema in Loanword Plurals: -ë, learn English Loanwords and Plurals With -en.