The Role of Gender in Serbian Noun Plurals

In Serbian grammar, nouns are categorized into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. To properly form plural nouns, one must consider the noun’s gender as gender influences the plural formation.

Masculine Nouns

For most masculine nouns in Serbian, the plural form is obtained by replacing the singular nominative ending -а or -е with the plural ending -и or -е, respectively. For example:

– Singular: стол (stol) – table
– Plural: столови (stolovi) – tables

– Singular: чика (čika) – uncle
– Plural: чике (čike) – uncles

Certain masculine nouns, particularly ones ending with a consonant or -o, form plurals with the ending -а, as shown below:

– Singular: младич (mladić) – young man
– Plural: младици (mladići) – young men

– Singular: авион (avion) – airplane
– Plural: авиони (avioni) – airplanes

Feminine Nouns

For most feminine nouns, the plural form is created by replacing the singular nominative ending -а with the plural ending -е. However, feminine nouns ending in -ica require the ending -ice for plurals. Examples include:

– Singular: књига (knjiga) – book
– Plural: књиге (knjige) – books

– Singular: ученица (učenica) – female student
– Plural: ученице (učenice) – female students

Neuter Nouns

In the case of neuter nouns, the plural form typically involves replacing the singular nominative ending -о with the plural ending -а. Examples of such nouns include:

– Singular: дете (dete) – child
– Plural: деца (deca) – children

Sometimes, the plural requires an additional vowel before the ending -а, particularly with nouns ending in -ce and -če. For instance:

– Singular: селце (selce) – small village
– Plural: селца (selca) – small villages

Exceptions and Irregularities in Serbian Plural Nouns

Like any language, Serbian grammar has its unique set of irregularities and exceptions in forming plural nouns. Some examples of irregular plural noun forms in Serbian include:

– Singular: човек (čovek) – person, man
– Plural: људи (ljudi) – people

– Singular: доцница (docnica) – latecomer
– Plural: доцника (docnika) – latecomers

It is essential to be aware of these exceptions and variations in forming plurals for correct usage of the Serbian language.

Conclusion

Mastery of plural forms of nouns in Serbian grammar demands a deep understanding of the language’s gender system and variations in plural endings. By learning the rules and exceptions outlined in this article, you will be better equipped to grasp the beauty and intricacies of Serbian grammar.