-s/-es

Plural Formation

Foundations

Most plurals use -s or -es; some words remain unchanged. Match articles and agreeing adjectives to the noun’s number.

How It Works

Spanish nouns and adjectives distinguish singular and plural, usually with -s or -es.

Common Patterns

  • After an unstressed vowel, add -s: casa → casas. Stressed -á, -é and -ó also normally take -s: café → cafés.
  • Many words ending in -l, -r, -n, -d, -z or -j take -es: árbol → árboles, reloj → relojes. Final z normally becomes c before -es: lápiz → lápices.
  • Many words ending in stressed -í or -ú allow either -s or -es: tabú → tabús/tabúes. Some words have a preferred or fixed form; learn it with the word.
  • Words ending in -s or -x with stress before the final syllable commonly remain unchanged: el lunes → los lunes, la crisis → las crisis. Stressed final -s commonly takes -es: compás → compases.
  • Borrowings may add -s even after a consonant: cómic → cómics.

Agreement
Articles and agreeing adjectives match the noun’s number: el libro rojo → los libros rojos. Not every modifier changes form: an adverb such as muy is invariable, and some nouns and adjectives have identical singular and plural forms.

Written Accents
Apply the accent rules to the plural form. Árboles keeps a written accent; canciones loses the accent of canción. Most words retain their spoken stress, but some have special plurals, such as régimen → regímenes. Check unfamiliar forms rather than using a blanket “every consonant takes -es” rule.

Examples (5)

  1. casa → casas

    house → houses

    The noun 'casa' ends in a vowel (a), so you add -s to make it plural.

  2. árbol → árboles

    tree → trees

    The noun 'árbol' ends in a consonant (l), so you add -es. To keep the stress on the same syllable as the singular 'árbol', the plural form 'árboles' needs a written accent.

  3. lápiz → lápices

    pencil → pencils

    For nouns ending in -z, change the 'z' to 'c' and add -es.

  4. El coche es nuevo. → Los coches son nuevos.

    The car is new. → The cars are new.

    Word by Word: The car is new. → The cars are new.

  5. Tengo una pregunta interesante. → Tengo unas preguntas interesantes.

    I have an interesting question. → I have some interesting questions.

    Word by Word: I have a question interesting. → I have some questions interesting.

Common Mistakes

  • Failing to match the adjective’s gender and number to flores.

    Compré unas flores bonito.
    Compré unas flores bonitas.

    Flores is feminine plural, so the adjective is bonitas. Bonito mismatches both gender and number.

  • Forgetting to make the article plural

    La casas son grandes.
    Las casas son grandes.

    The definite article ('la') must change to its plural form ('las') to match the plural noun 'casas'.

How It Connects

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-s/-esFoundationsPlural Formation

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-s-es