Most Dutch nouns take -en. A smaller group takes -s. The key is knowing which spelling changes apply — short vowels, long vowels, and f/s alternations.
1. The -en plural (most nouns)
The default plural in Dutch. Add -en — but spelling rules may apply to keep vowel sounds correct.
Short vowel → double the final consonant
When a noun has a short vowel in a closed syllable, double the final consonant before adding -en. This keeps the vowel short.
| Singular | Plural | English |
| kat | katten | cat |
| bed | bedden | bed |
| bus | bussen | bus |
| map | mappen | folder |
| lip | lippen | lip |
Long vowel (written double) → remove one vowel
Long vowels are written with double letters in closed syllables (maan, boom). In the open syllable of the plural, only one vowel is needed.
| Singular | Plural | English |
| maan | manen | moon |
| boom | bomen | tree |
| boot | boten | boat |
| raam | ramen | window |
| jaar | jaren | year |
f → v and s → z
Words ending in -f or -s often voice the final consonant before -en.
f → v
brief → brieven (letter)
dief → dieven (thief)
golf → golven (wave)
straf → straffen (punishment*)
s → z
huis → huizen (house)
reis → reizen (trip)
glas → glazen (glass)
prijs → prijzen (price)
* straf has a short vowel, so consonant doubles instead.
2. The -s plural
Use -s for nouns ending in -el, -em, -en, -er — and always for diminutives (-je).
-el / -em / -er → -s
tafel → tafels (table)
bezem → bezems (broom)
kamer → kamers (room)
sleutel → sleutels (key)
computer → computers (computer)
Diminutives (-je) → always -s
meisje → meisjes (girl)
huisje → huisjes (cottage)
woordje → woordjes (little word)
kopje → kopjes (cup (small))
jongetje → jongetjes (little boy)
3. Apostrophe + s — nouns ending in a vowel
When a noun ends in a stressed vowel (a, o, u, i, y), add 's to avoid the vowel sounding wrong.
paraplu → paraplu's
umbrella
The apostrophe is only for a bare final a/i/o/u/y. A word ending in an accented -é takes plain -s: café → cafés, not café's. And no apostrophe is needed when the noun ends in a consonant or when adding -en: kraan → kranen, not kraan's.
4. Latin -um words → -a
centrum → centra
city centre
aquarium → aquaria
aquarium
stadium → stadions*
stadium
* Some -um words have accepted Dutch -s plurals in everyday use (stadions, museums).
5. Irregular plurals
A small group of common words don't follow any rule. Learn these by heart.
kind → kinderen
child → children
lied → liederen
song → songs
kalf → kalveren
calf → calves
blad → bladeren / bladen
leaf / page → leaves / pages
stad → steden
city → cities
schip → schepen
ship → ships
lid → leden
member → members
