Language/Swedish/Grammar/Plural-nouns

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Swedish Grammar → Swedish Nouns → Plural nouns

In Swedish, the formation of plural nouns is generally regular. However, as with many languages, there are also some irregular forms. Knowing how to form plural nouns is essential for communication in Swedish. In this lesson, we will discuss the rules for forming plural nouns in Swedish, including irregular nouns.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Demonstrative pronouns & When use Ett or En.

Regular Nouns

In Swedish, most singular nouns are made plural by adding -ar to the end of the word. However, if the word ends in a consonant other than -s, -x, or -z, you must first add -e before the -ar ending. Here are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
bok (book)	/bo:k/	books
stol (chair)	/stu:l/	chairs
lag (team/law)	/lɑ:g/	teams/laws

When a singular noun ends with -s, -x, or -z, the plural form is created by adding -es. Examples include:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
tax (taxi)	/ta:ks/	taxis
kex (biscuit)	/ɕɛks/	biscuits
avtal (contract)	/avˈtal/	contracts

Some singular nouns ending with a vowel just add -r to form the plural form. Here are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
ton (tone)	/tɔn/	tones
säng (bed)	/sɛŋ/	beds
elefant (elephant)	/elɛˈfant/	elephants

Irregular Nouns

There are several irregular nouns in Swedish that have their own unique forms for the plural, which must be learned individually. Here are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
man (man)	/man/	men
kvinna (woman)	/kvyˈna/	women
barn (child)	/bɑːɳ/	children
fot (foot)	/fuːt/	feet

It is important to remember that the plural form of a noun can also be the same as the singular form. This usually occurs with words of foreign origin. Here are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
data (data)	/daɪˈta/	data
kollega (colleague)	/kʊˈleːga/	colleagues
sushi (sushi)	/ˈsuːɧi/	sushi

Note that some plural noun endings may appear similar to adjectives. However, plural nouns always take the definite article "de" or "den" while adjectives take "den" or "det".

Exceptions

Some words have ambiguous forms that can cause confusion when forming the plural. For instance, "en ägg" (an egg) becomes "ägg" in plural, while "en stägg" (a peg) becomes "stävlar". Moreover, the noun "en sida" can become either "sidor" or "sider." In such cases, it is best to consult a Swedish grammar textbook or dictionary to determine the correct form.

Summary

In Swedish, most nouns form their plural by adding -ar to the end of the word, but some consonants and vowels have additional rules. There are also some irregular nouns with their own unique plural forms. While not all of them follow the rules set out in this lesson, this guide should provide a general overview on how to properly form plural nouns in Swedish.

Sources

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Swedish

Swedish Pronouns

Colors and Numbers

Swedish Culture

Swedish Verbs

Body parts and health

Swedish Nouns

Travel and directions

Sweden's history

Swedish Adjectives

Jobs and professions

Videos

Swedish Basics - Plurals - YouTube

Swedish Plurals with Vowel Change (Umlaut) - YouTube

Other Lessons

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