Language/Polish/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Polish learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to form plurals in Polish. The Polish language has seven different cases, and it is important to understand the rules of forming plurals for each case. Let's dive into it!
Basic Rules for Forming Plurals
In Polish, most nouns follow a set of basic rules for forming plurals. The endings of the nouns change to reflect the number of items or people being referred to. Here are some examples:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyna | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nah | girl(s) |
| chłopak | hwaw-pahk | boy(s) |
| książka | kshawn-zh-kah | book(s) |
| stół | stoow | table(s) |
| rower | roh-vehrr | bicycle(s) |
| miasto | myah-staw | city(-ies) |
| ulica | ool-eet-sah | street(s) |
There are different rules for forming plurals for masculine and feminine nouns in Polish. In general, for masculine nouns ending in a consonant, the ending -i is added in the nominative plural. For feminine nouns ending in -a, the -a is replaced with -i in the nominative plural. Nouns ending in -o or -e may change to -a or -y in the nominative plural.
Note that some nouns have irregular plurals and must be learned individually. For example:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziecko | dyeh-t's-koh | child(-ren) |
| koń | kohn | horse(s) |
| drzewo | d'zheh-voh | tree(s) |
| zamek | zah-mehk | castle(s) |
| ręka | rehn-kah | hand(s) |
Learning these exceptions takes time and a lot of practice.
Plurals in Different Cases
In Polish, each noun has seven different cases. The declension of a noun can affect the way the plural is formed. Here are examples of plural forms in different cases:
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyna | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nah | Nominative: girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyny | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nih | Genitive: of girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczynom | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nuhm | Dative: to/for girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczyny | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nih | Accusative: girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dziewczynami | dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nah-mee | Instrumental: with girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| o dziewczynach | oh dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nahh | Locative: about girl(s) |
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| o dziewczynach | oh dyeh-vchooh-zhih-nahh | Vocative: O girl(s) |
As you can see, the endings of the nouns change according to the cases in the above examples. Therefore, it is important to memorize the nouns in different cases and practice them.
Special Cases
In some cases, the plural in Polish does not follow a regular pattern. Here are some examples:
1. Plurals of foreign words - In the case of nouns that are borrowed from other languages, the plural is often formed by adding -y or -i, depending on the noun.
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| hotel | hoh-tehl | hotel(s) |
| hoteliki | hoh-teh-lee-kee | little hotel(s) |
| szef | shef | boss(es) |
| szefowie | sheh-foh-vee-eh | bosses |
2. Plurals of shortened words - When a noun is shortened or clipped, its plural can be formed by adding -y, -i or -owie, depending on the noun.
| Polish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| fura | foo-rah | van(s) [short for furgonetka] |
| furki | foo-rkee | vans [pl. of furgonetki] |
| róg | roog | corner(s) |
| rogi | roh-ghee | corners |
| student | stoo-dehnt | student(s) |
| studenci | stoo-dehnt-see | students |
Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to learn how to form plurals in Polish is to practice, practice, practice! Listen to Polish music, watch movies in Polish, and read Polish texts to become more familiar with how words are changed to express different meanings.
To improve your Polish Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Dialogue
- Person 1: Ile penków masz w swoim pokoju? (How many pens do you have in your room?)
- Person 2: Mam pięć długopisów i trzy ołówki. (I have five pens and three pencils.)
- Person 1: Gdzie są twoje książki? (Where are your books?)
- Person 2: Na półce w pokoju. (On the shelf in the room.)
Sources
Videos
Polish for beginners. Lesson 13. Plural nouns - YouTube