Language/Ukrainian/Grammar/Plural-Nouns
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Nouns and Gender[edit | edit source]
Plural Nouns[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will learn how to form plural nouns in Ukrainian. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, animal, thing, or concept. Ukrainian, like many other Slavic languages, has its own rules for forming plurals. Understanding how to form and use plural nouns is essential for building your vocabulary and expressing yourself correctly in Ukrainian.
Regular Plurals[edit | edit source]
In Ukrainian, most nouns form their plurals by adding specific endings to the singular form. These endings depend on the gender and declension of the noun. Let's explore the different ways to form regular plurals in Ukrainian.
Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Most masculine nouns in Ukrainian form their plurals by adding the ending "-и" to the singular form. Here are some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| хлопець (khlopets') | [xlɔˈpɛtsʲ] | boy |
| стілець (stilets') | [ˈst⁽ʲ⁾ilɛtsʲ] | chair |
| дідусь (didus') | [ˈdidusʲ] | grandfather |
| батько (bat'ko) | [ˈbatʲkɔ] | father |
| син (syn) | [sɪn] | son |
As you can see, the singular forms of these masculine nouns end in different consonants or consonant clusters. However, in the plural form, they all add the "-и" ending. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending. For example, the consonant "т" in "стілець" becomes "ц" in the plural form "стільці".
There are also some masculine nouns that end in "-ь" in the singular form. These nouns form their plurals by replacing the final "-ь" with "-і". Here are a few examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| синь (syn') | [sɪnʲ] | blue |
| день (den') | [dɛnʲ] | day |
| шлях (shlyakh) | [ˈʃʲlʲɑx] | road |
In the plural form, these nouns change their endings to "-і". Again, pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending.
Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]
Most feminine nouns in Ukrainian form their plurals by adding the ending "-и" to the singular form. Here are some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| дівчина (divchyna) | [ˈdɪwtʃɪnɑ] | girl |
| книга (knýha) | [ˈknɪɦɑ] | book |
| сестра (sestra) | [ˈsɛstrɑ] | sister |
| мама (mama) | [ˈmɑmɑ] | mother |
| вулиця (vulytsya) | [ˈwulɪtsʲɑ] | street |
Just like with masculine nouns, the plural ending "-и" is added to the singular form. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending.
There are also some feminine nouns that end in "-я" or "-а" in the singular form. These nouns form their plurals by replacing the final "-я" or "-а" with "-і". Here are a few examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| кав'ярня (kav'yarnya) | [kɑwˈjɑrnʲɑ] | café |
| рукавичка (rukavyčka) | [rukɑˈwɪtʃkɑ] | glove |
| книжка (knýzhka) | [knɪʒˈkɑ] | book |
| страва (strava) | [ˈstrɑwɑ] | dish |
In the plural form, these nouns change their endings to "-і". Again, pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending.
Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]
Most neuter nouns in Ukrainian form their plurals by adding the ending "-а" to the singular form. Here are some examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| море (more) | [ˈmɔrɛ] | sea |
| поле (pole) | [ˈpɔlɛ] | field |
| дерево (derevo) | [dɛˈrɛwɔ] | tree |
| вікно (vikno) | [ˈwiknɔ] | window |
| місто (misto) | [ˈmisto] | city |
As you can see, the singular forms of these neuter nouns end in a vowel or "-о". In the plural form, they all add the "-а" ending. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending. For example, the vowel "о" in "дерево" becomes "е" in the plural form "дерева".
There are also some neuter nouns that end in "-я" or "-е" in the singular form. These nouns form their plurals by replacing the final "-я" or "-е" with "-ята" or "-ята/ята". Here are a few examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| містечко (mistechko) | [mɪsˈtɛtʃkɔ] | small town |
| око (oko) | [ˈɔkɔ] | eye |
| сонце (sontse) | [ˈsɔnt͡sɛ] | sun |
| віконце (vikon't͡sɛ) | [vɪˈkɔnt͡sɛ] | small window |
In the plural form, these nouns change their endings to "-ята". Again, pay attention to the pronunciation changes that may occur when adding the plural ending.
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
While most Ukrainian nouns form their plurals following regular patterns, there are some nouns with irregular plurals. These nouns do not follow the typical rules for plural formation and must be memorized. Here are a few examples of nouns with irregular plurals:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| яблуко (yabluko) | [jɑˈblukɔ] | apple |
| олень (olén') | [ɔˈlɛnʲ] | deer |
| дитина (dytyna) | [dɪˈtɪnɑ] | child |
| вухо (vukho) | [ˈwuxɔ] | ear |
| ножиці (nozhytsi) | [nɔˈʒɪt͡sʲi] | scissors |
As you can see, these nouns have unique plurals that do not follow the regular patterns.
It's important to note that there are also some nouns in Ukrainian that have the same form in both the singular and plural. These nouns are called "invariable nouns" and do not change depending on the number. Here are a few examples:
| Ukrainian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| риба (ryba) | [ˈrɪbɑ] | fish |
| сонце (sontse) | [ˈsɔnt͡sɛ] | sun |
| молоко (moloko) | [mɔˈlɔkɔ] | milk |
| золото (zoloto) | [zɔˈlɔtɔ] | gold |
These nouns are always used in the singular form, even when referring to multiple entities.
Plural Nouns in Sentences[edit | edit source]
Now that we have learned how to form plural nouns in Ukrainian, let's practice using them in sentences. Here are some examples:
- У книжках лежать наші секрети. (U knyzhkakh lezhat' nashi sekrety.) - Our secrets are in the books.
- Діти грають у парку. (Dity hrayut' u parku.) - The children are playing in the park.
- Мами готують смачну їжу. (Mamy hotoyut' smachnu yizhu.) - Mothers are cooking delicious food.
- Вулиці міста завжди шумні. (Vulytsi mista zavzhdy shumni.) - The streets of the city are always noisy.
- Очі бабусі сяють як зірки. (Ochi babusі syayut' yak zіrky.) - Grandma's eyes shine like stars.
Practice forming plural nouns in different contexts and make sure to pay attention to the gender and declension of the nouns.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You now know how to form plural nouns in Ukrainian. Regular plurals follow specific patterns based on the gender and declension of the noun. Masculine and feminine nouns generally add the ending "-и" to form the plural, while neuter nouns usually add the ending "-а". However, there are also irregular plurals that must be memorized. Plural nouns are an important part of building your vocabulary and expressing yourself correctly in Ukrainian. Keep practicing and exploring the language to continue improving your Ukrainian skills.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Ukrainian Lesson 7. Plural Nouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Personal Pronouns
- Adverbs of time, place, intention and cause
- Prepositions
- Present Tense
- Feminine
- Verbs Reflexive and Imperative
- Present tense
- Present tense Irregular verbs
- The Alphabet
- Verb to like
| ◀️ Nouns and Their Gender — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Family Members ▶️ |