Let’s practise! How do you form the plural of nouns in Portuguese?
1. In general, nouns ending in a vowel or a diphthong (two vowels in the same syllable) form the plural by adding the letter –s. Examples:
- a casa (the house) > as casas (the houses)
- a mesa (the table) > as mesas (the tables)
- a ideia (the idea) > as ideias (the ideas)
- a mãe (the mother)> as mães (the mothers)
- o chapéu (the hat) > os chapéus (the hats)
- o cacau (the cocoa) > os cacaus (the cocoas)
2.Nouns ending in –r and –z: these form the plural by adding –es to the singular form. Examples:
- o mar (the sea) > os mares (the seas) (the spoon) (the spoons)
- a colher (the spoon) > as colheres (the spoons)
- o rapaz (the boy) > os rapazes (the boys)
- a voz (the voice) > as vozes (the voices)
3. Nouns ending in –s: when they do not have an accent on the final syllable, they remain unchanged. Examples:
- o lápis (the pencil) > os lápis (the pencils)
- o ônibus (the bus) > os ônibus (the buses)
When nouns have an accent on the final syllable, they form the plural by adding –es. Example:
- o país (the country) > os países (the countries)
4. Nouns ending in the nasal diphthong –ão: forms ending in –ão form the plural in three different ways: (Note: there are no set rules; we need to listen and memorise them!). Examples:
a. replacing –ão with –ões. Tip: For all words ending in –ção and –são, the plural form is: ções and sões!
- a ação (the action) > as ações (the actions)
- a decisão (the decision) > as decisões (the decisions)
- o avião (the aeroplane)> os aviões (the aeroplanes)
- a razão (the reason)> as razões (the reasons)
- a opinião (the opinion) > as opiniões (the opinions)
b. by adding –s
- o irmão (the brother) > os irmãos (the brothers)
- a mão (the hand) > as mãos (the hands)
- o cidadão (the citizen) > os cidadãos (the citizens)
c. replacing –ão with –ães
- o cão (the dog) > os cães (the dogs)
- o pão (the bread) > os pães (the breads)
- o alemão (the German)> os alemães (the Germans)
- o capitão (the captain) > os capitães (the captains)
5. Plural forms of words ending in –L
a. Words ending in –L drop the L and take on –is (plural). (We remove the final –L and add –is)
- o animal (the animal) > os animais (the animals)
- o casal (the couple) > os casais (the couples)
- o hotel (the hotel) > os hotéis (the hotels)
b. Words ending in –il that do not have an accent lose the L and take an –s
- o perfil (the profile) > os perfis (the profiles)
- o civil (the civilian) > os civis (the civilians)
c. Words with an accent ending in –il take –eis
- fácil (easy) > fáceis (easy)
- difícil (difficult) > difíceis (difficult)
6. The plural form of words ending in –m. Words ending in -m form the plural by replacing the ‘m’ with –ns. Examples:
- homem (the man) > homens (the men)
- imagem (the image) > imagens (the images)
- nuvem (the cloud) > nuvens (the clouds)
Let’s practise!
What is the plural of these words in Portuguese?
- livro (book) _______
- casa (house) _______
- troféu (trophy) _______
- mãe (mother) _______
- luz (light) _______
- cor (color) _______
- ônibus (bus) _______
- televisão (television) _______
- irmão (brother) _______
- pão (bread) _______
- hotel (hotel) _______
- carnaval (Carnival) _______
The answers are at the end of this lesson! 1
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- Respostas:
1. livro > livros
2. casa > casas
3. troféu > troféus
4. mãe > mães
5. luz > luzes
6. cor > cores
7. ônibus > ônibus
8. televisão > televisões
9. irmão > irmãos
10. pão > pães
11. hotel > hotéis
12. carnaval > carnavais
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