A1 Spanish grammar

Spanish Plural Nouns: Simple Rules for Beginners

Spanish plural nouns follow a few dependable spelling patterns. Add -s after most vowels, add -es after most consonants, and change a final z to c before adding -es. The article must become plural too.

Form Spanish plural nouns with -s

For most nouns ending in an unstressed vowel, add -s. Casa becomes casas, libro becomes libros, and estudiante becomes estudiantes.

Las casas son pequeñas.
The houses are small.Casa ends in a vowel, so its plural is casas; the article also changes from la to las.

Quick check

What is the plural of casa?

Add -es after most consonants

A noun ending in a consonant usually takes -es. Papel becomes papeles and ciudad becomes ciudades.

Necesito dos papeles.
I need two papers.Papel ends in a consonant, so the plural adds -es.

Change final z to c before adding -es

When a singular noun ends in z, replace z with c and add -es. Luz becomes luces and lápiz becomes lápices.

Las luces están encendidas.
The lights are on.Final z changes to c before -es: luz becomes luces.

Common mistakes

Los libro

Los libros

Both the article and the noun must show plural number.

Las luzes

Las luces

A final z changes to c before the plural ending -es.

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Plural nouns FAQ

How do you make a Spanish noun plural?

Add -s after most vowels, add -es after most consonants, and change final z to c before adding -es.

What is the plural of casa?

The plural is casas because casa ends in a vowel and takes -s.

What is the plural of papel?

The plural is papeles because papel ends in a consonant and takes -es.

Why does luz become luces?

Spanish changes a final z to c before adding the plural ending -es.

Continue learning

Spanish articlesLearn how Spanish definite and indefinite articles agree with noun gender and number, with beginner examples and practice.Noun genderLearn Spanish noun gender through common endings, useful exceptions, and the articles that reveal whether a noun is masculine or feminine.HayLearn how hay in Spanish expresses there is and there are, which articles follow it, and how to make questions and negative statements.Adjective number agreementLearn Spanish adjective number agreement by adding -s or -es and matching every adjective to a singular or plural noun.Essential Spanish vocabularyPractise common nouns that use these plural patterns.Build your Spanish vocabularyLearn singular and plural noun forms through interactive review.