Plurals
Plurals: Either add an E or an S to pluralize the noun.
Short and long vowels determine spelling when you pluralize a word. Pay close attention.
Note: word examples are a mix of real and fake words.
(A) Long and short vowels
Here are some typical examples:
pal > palle paal > pale kot > kotte koot > kote | sup > suppe suup > supe mes > messe mees > mese |
(B) End in Two Consonants, Vowels and Diphtongs
If these do not fall in the long/short vowel category just get an E addition, e.g.; boek > boeke suin > suine oord > oorde maart > maarte kraai > kraaie koei > koeie | meeu > meeue meid > meide kous > kouse looi > looie poei > poeie saai > saaie |
(C) S Ending
There is no clear-cut all encompassing rule for when an "S" ending is required. You will acquire a feel for these words.Often when a word ends in an R, L or M, the S is used. That is just a guide though.
komper > kompers vinger > vingers slinger > slingers hanger > hangers singer > singers werker > werkers kafee > kafees trofee > trofees slee > slees meisie > meisies | tafel > tafels amandel > amandels appel > appels katel > katels skerm > skerms arm > arms derm > derms alarm > alarms film > films stasie > stasies |
(D) Suffix -heid >-hede
eenheid > eenhede waarheid > waarhede leegheid > leeghede matigheid > matighede | mattigheid > mattighede hartlikheid > hartlikhede moeilikheid > moeilikhede |
(E) The -ens ending.
nooi > nooiens lewe > lewens hawe > hawens wa > waens | gevoel > gevoelens jong > jongens wese >wesens |
(F) Exceptions
kind > kinders | pad > paaie |
(G) The -TE ending (All are English cognates with an -st ending.)
bees > beeste fees > feeste gees > geeste toeris > toeriste | kas > kaste teks > tekste amp > ampte |
(H) The -F ending when preceded by a short vowel
gelof > gelofte skrif > skrifte | graf > grafte skof > skofte |
(I) The -F ending when preceded by a long vowel.
druif > druiwe slaaf > slawe | staaf > stawe gaaf > gawe |
(J) The -G ending when preceded by a short vowel.
plig > pligte vrug > vrugte krag > kragte | nag > nagte (exceptions) dag > dae weg > weë |
(K) The -G ending when preceded by a long vowel.
plaag > plae | vlieg > vlieë |