General Rules for Making Nouns Plural in Portuguese
Add -s to Most Nouns Ending in a Vowel
For the majority of nouns that end with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), forming the plural is straightforward—just add an -s at the end.
- casa (house) → casas (houses)
- amigo (friend) → amigos (friends)
- menino (boy) → meninos (boys)
- mulher (woman) → mulheres (women)
Nouns Ending in -r, -s, or -z: Add -es
If a noun ends with the consonants -r, -s, or -z, you typically form the plural by adding -es.
- flor (flower) → flores (flowers)
- paz (peace) → pazes (peaces)
- luz (light) → luzes (lights)
Note: For nouns ending in -s, if the word is paroxytone (stress on the second-to-last syllable), it remains unchanged in the plural:
- ônibus (bus) → ônibus (buses)
- lápis (pencil) → lápis (pencils)
Nouns Ending in -m: Change to -ns
Nouns ending with -m will change the -m to -ns for the plural form.
- homem (man) → homens (men)
- jardim (garden) → jardins (gardens)
Nouns Ending in -ão: Three Possible Plural Forms
Nouns ending in -ão can be tricky, as there are three different plural forms: -ões, -ães, or -ãos. While there are some patterns, many must be memorized.
- pão (bread) → pães (breads)
- coração (heart) → corações (hearts)
- irmão (brother) → irmãos (brothers)
Tip: Most words ending in -ão take -ões, but check a dictionary or language app like Talkpal for exceptions.
Irregular Plurals and Exceptions
Some Common Irregular Plurals
Just like in English, Portuguese has some nouns with irregular plural forms. Here are a few:
- mal (evil) → males (evils)
- cão (dog) → cães (dogs)
- alemão (German) → alemães (Germans)
Nouns with Invariable Plural Forms
Some nouns don’t change at all in the plural. These are often nouns that already end in -s or -x and are paroxytone:
- tórax (thorax) → tórax (thoraxes)
- lápis (pencil) → lápis (pencils)
Tips for Mastering Portuguese Plurals
- Practice regularly: Use apps like Talkpal to reinforce your understanding with exercises and real-life examples.
- Read and listen: Exposure to Portuguese in books, podcasts, and conversations will help you internalize plural forms naturally.
- Make flashcards: Especially for irregular forms, flashcards can help you remember tricky cases.
- Pay attention to gender: Remember that adjectives must also agree in number and gender with nouns.
Conclusion
Making nouns plural in Portuguese follows clear patterns, with a few exceptions and irregularities. By learning these rules and practicing regularly, you’ll soon find pluralization becomes second nature. Keep using language tools like Talkpal and immerse yourself in Portuguese to see your skills grow. With a little dedication, you’ll be forming plurals with confidence and accuracy!
