Language/Swedish/Grammar/Plural-nouns
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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.
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.