PLURAL FORMS OF SPANISH NOUNS

Spanish nouns follow some patterns when they become plural. However, there are exceptions, especially when it comes to foreign words.

GENERAL RULES AND THEIR EXCEPTIONS

Spanish nouns become plural by adding -s or -es to the singular form.

1. Nouns that end in an unstressed vowel or a stressed -a, -e, or –o become plural by adding -s.

mesa → mesas

sofá → sofás

pozo → pozos  

2. Nouns that end in a stressed -i or -u become plural by adding -es.

The plural form with only -s is acceptable, but adding -es is recommended, especially in formal speech.

esquí → esquíes (or esquíes)

tabú → tabúes (or tabús)

Exception

Some foreign or colloquial words that end in a stressed -i or -u become plural by adding only -s.

pirulí → pirulís

champú → champús

3. Nouns that end in a consonant generally become plural by adding -es.

reloj → relojes

rey → reyes

*At the end of any word, -y is pronounced as a vowel, yet still follows this rule and adds -es to become plural. Then, when followed by -es, the -y is pronounced as a consonant.

Remember, if the singular form ends in -z, then change -z to -c before adding -es.

avestruz → avestruces

lápiz → lápices

Exception 1

Foreign words that end in a consonant often become plural by adding only -s, especially if the consonant is not a common ending consonant in Spanish* or is preceded by another consonant.

*The most common ending consonants in Spanish are -d, -n, -l, -r, -s and -z.

chat → chats

iceberg → icebergs

When the ending letter is -y preceded by a vowel, it becomes -i.

jersey → jerséis

espray → espráis

Exception 2

For nouns that end in -s preceded by an unstressed vowel, the singular and plural form are the same.

atlas → atlas

oasis → oasis

This group includes the names of the days of the week that end in -s:

lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes

It also includes compound nouns formed by a noun already in its plural form:

espantapájaros, paraguas, lavaplatos

ACCENTUATION OF PLURAL NOUNS

The stressed vowel in the plural form of a noun is the same one as in the singular form.

(stressed syllables are underlined)

so → sofás

canal → canales

cama → camas

piz → pices

jaro → jaros

laba → labas

There are three exceptions:

cacter → caracteres

escimen → espemenes

gimen → remenes

In some cases, to preserve the position of the stress, and due to the change in the number of syllables when adding -es, the plural form needs a written accent that was unnecessary in the singular form, or else loses the written accent that was necessary in the singular form:

imagen → igenes

camión → camiones

LEARN THEM!

I think these are the most important points for how to make Spanish nouns and adjectives plural. Although anybody could naturally learn how to make plural nouns and adjectives by reading and listening, I recommend that all beginner students learn these rules and exceptions.

Light On Spanish Learning Resources

Join the Spanish Learning Mastery Group

Light On Spanish

Learn more...

Did you know we publish new lessons inside the Premium Membership Site every week?

And once in a while, the Membership subscription fee goes up for new subscribers.

The sooner you subscribe, the better deal you get—for life.

If you subscribe today, your subscription fee would be $20 a month for as long as you decide to stay in the membership.

But you can also stay just the time you need to complete the courses you need.

Right now there are courses about:


● Past tenses

● Ser, Estar & Haber

● Verb Mood (Indicative vs Subjunctive)

● Prepositions

● Personal Pronouns

● Verb Conjugation

● Determiners

● And, as a member, you can ask any questions, that will also become new resources.