Once you can name one thing, you need two. Dutch plurals come down to a simple choice, -en or -s, with a few spelling tweaks and a short irregular list. Here is how to predict the right one.
The default: -en
Most Dutch nouns add -en:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| het boek | boeken |
| de fiets | fietsen |
| het huis | huizen |
| de stoel | stoelen |
As Dutch grammar references note, when in doubt, -en is the more likely ending.
The -en plural triggers the usual spelling rules: a v or s often returns to z or v (huis to huizen, brief to brieven), short vowels double the consonant (man to mannen), and long vowels stay single in the now-open syllable (maan to manen).
When to use -s
A smaller group takes -s. The main cases:
| Use -s for… | Example |
|---|---|
| unstressed -el, -em, -en, -er | tafel to tafels, lepel to lepels, jongen to jongens |
| the diminutive -je | meisje to meisjes, biertje to biertjes |
| many loanwords | computer to computers, team to teams |
So all diminutives take -s (een huisje, twee huisjes). Onze Taal lists the -s categories.
The apostrophe: vowel + ‘s
Words ending in a single vowel add ‘s (with an apostrophe) to keep the vowel sound:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| de auto | auto’s |
| de foto | foto’s |
| de baby | baby’s |
| het menu | menu’s |
(Words ending in a silent -e just add -s: tante to tantes.) The reference grammar Taalportaal details the apostrophe rule.
All plurals are de-words
A freebie worth repeating: every plural takes de, whatever the singular’s gender. So het kind (the child) becomes de kinderen, and het huis becomes de huizen. This ties straight into the de/het rules and adjective endings (plurals always take the -e on adjectives).
The irregulars (a short list)
A handful do their own thing:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| het kind | kinderen |
| het ei | eieren |
| de stad | steden |
| het schip | schepen |
| de dag | dagen |
Some lengthen the vowel (stad to steden), and a few keep an old -eren ending (kind, ei, blad). Learn these individually; they are a small group.
Where it connects
Plurals build on spelling rules and the de/het split, and they pair with present-tense conjugation to build full sentences. Counting more than one thing also leads into quantities and weights when shopping.
The bottom line
Most Dutch plurals add -en (boeken, huizen), with spelling tweaks. Use -s for unstressed -el/-em/-en/-er endings, all diminutives, and loanwords (tafels, meisjes, computers), and ‘s after a single vowel (auto’s, foto’s). Every plural is a de-word. Memorise the short irregular list (kinderen, eieren, steden), and you can pluralise almost anything.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that drills plural formation with real nouns, boek to boeken, tafel to tafels, foto to foto’s, plus the irregulars, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so the right plural comes out without guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make plurals in Dutch?
Most Dutch nouns add -en: boek to boeken, huis to huizen, fiets to fietsen. A smaller group adds -s, mainly words ending in an unstressed -el, -em, -en, -er or -je (tafel to tafels, meisje to meisjes), and many loanwords. Words ending in a single vowel add ‘s with an apostrophe (auto to auto’s, foto to foto’s). All plurals take the article de, whatever the singular was.
When does a Dutch plural take -s instead of -en?
Use -s mainly for: words ending in unstressed -el, -em, -en, -er, -je (tafel to tafels, bezem to bezems, jongen to jongens, lepel to lepels, meisje to meisjes); many borrowed words (computer to computers); and words ending in a vowel, which add ‘s (auto to auto’s, baby to baby’s, menu to menu’s). Most other nouns take -en. When unsure, -en is the more common default.
What are some irregular Dutch plurals?
A handful change more than the ending. Kind becomes kinderen (children), ei becomes eieren (eggs), and some short words lengthen the vowel: stad to steden (cities), schip to schepen (ships), dag to dagen, weg to wegen. A few keep an old -eren plural (kind, ei, blad to bladeren). These are best learned individually, but they are a small group against the regular -en and -s patterns.
What is the best app to learn Dutch plurals?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it drills plural formation on real nouns, boek to boeken, tafel to tafels, foto to foto’s, plus the irregulars like kind to kinderen, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so you pick the right plural ending automatically.
