Prototypical English nouns have both singular and plural forms. Singular nouns refer to one “person, place, thing, or idea” while plural nouns refer to “not one” (two or more or less than one) “people, places, things, or ideas.” Regular nouns are predictable, taking an -s suffix to form the plural. Irregular nouns are unpredictable, following other rules to form the plural. Learn how to form and pronounce the plural forms of regular English nouns with the following guide.
Forming Regular Plural Nouns
To form the plural of most nouns in English, simply add the suffix -s to the end of the noun. For example, the following list includes the singular and plural forms of some common English nouns:
- book – books
- table – tables
- boy – boys
- girl – girls
For nouns that end in an -s, -z, -x, -ch, or -sh, add the suffix -es to the end of the noun. For example:
- bush – bushes
- hex – hexes
- match – matches
- coach – coaches
- waltz – waltzes
However, for nouns that end in an -z preceded by an i, double the z and add the suffix -es to the end of the noun. For example:
- quiz – quizzes
- tiz – tizzes
- wiz or whiz – wizzes or whizzes
For nouns spelled with a final y preceded by a consonant, change the y to an i and then add the -es suffix. For example:
- butterfly – butterflies
- sky – skies
- party – parties
- theory – theories
For many nouns spelled with a final f or fe, change the f or fe to a ve and then add the -s suffix. For example:
- wolf – wolves
- elf – elves
- loaf – loaves
- shelf – selves
However, some nouns spelled with a final f have two acceptable forms. For example:
- dwarf – dwarfs or dwarves
- hoof – hoofs or hooves
- scarf – scarfs or scarves
- staff – staffs or staves
- wharf – wharfs or wharves
Additionally, other nouns spelled with a final f take only the -s suffix in the plural form. For example:
- belief – beliefs
- chief – chiefs
- gulf – gulfs
- reef – reefs
- safe – safes
For nouns spelled with a final o preceded by a vowel, simply add the -s suffix. For example:
- duo – duos
- radio – radios
- stereo – stereos
- studio – studios
For nouns of foreign origin including most musical terms that end with an o, also add the -s suffix. For example:
- kimono – kimonos
- piano – pianos
- solo – solos
- taco – tacos
For most nouns spelled with a final o preceded by a consonant, add the -es suffix. For example:
- echo – echoes
- hero – heroes
- potato – potatoes
- tomato – tomatoes
However, some nouns spelled with a final o preceded by a consonant take either the -s or the -es suffix. For example:
- avocado – avocados or avocadoes
- ghetto – ghettos or ghettoes
- hobo – hobos or hoboes
- tornado – tornados or tornadoes
Pronouncing Regular Plural Nouns
Although all regular English nouns take either an -s or -es suffix in the plural, the suffix is pronounced differently depending on the last sound of the noun. For nouns that end in an [s] (s, se, ce), [z] (z, ze), [š] (sh), [č] (ch), or [ĵ] (j, dge) sound, then the plural suffix is pronounced as [ez] (es). For example:
- ace – aces
- smudge – smudges
- curse – curses
- squash – squashes
For nouns that end in a voiceless [p] (p, pe), [t] (t, tt, te), [k] (k, ck, ke), [f] (f, gh), [θ] (th), or [h] (h) sound, then the plural suffix is pronounced as [s] (s). For example:
- mat – mats
- rock – rocks
- cape – capes
- digraph – digraphs
For nouns that end in a voiced [m] (m, me), [n] (n, ne), [ng] (ng), [b (b, be), [d] (d), [g] (g, ge), [v] (v, ve), [ð] (th), [w] (w), [r] (r, re), or [l] (l, ll, le) sound or any vowel sound, then the plural suffix is pronounced as [z] (z). For example:
- baby – babies
- floor – floors
- joy – joys
- pew – pews
Regular English nouns take either an -s or -es suffix in the plural. However, the spelling and pronunciation of the regular plural noun varies depending on the particular noun.
Learn about forming the plurals of irregular English nouns in Irregular Plural Nouns in English.
See also Plural English Nouns for a printable that lists the rules for forming plurals of regular, irregular, and foreign loanword nouns in the English language with examples.
References
Hopper, Paul J. 1999. A short course in grammar. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Huddleston, Rodney. 1984. Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
