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Nominative Plural for Feminine Nouns (-y/-i)

To make feminine nouns plural, swap -а for -и and -я for -і.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a feminine noun plural, change the final -а to -и, or -я to -і.

  • Nouns ending in -а become -и (e.g., карта -> карти).
  • Nouns ending in -я become -і (e.g., пісня -> пісні).
  • Nouns ending in -я preceded by a vowel become -ї (e.g., сім'я -> сім'ї).
Noun(-а/-я) + ➡️ + Noun(-и/-і)

Overview

Welcome to the world of Ukrainian plurals! If you can identify a feminine noun, you are halfway there. In Ukrainian, feminine nouns usually end in -а or -я.
Turning one thing into many is like a simple magic trick. You just swap the last letter for a new one. This rule covers most of the things you see every day.
Think of it as your first step to talking about groups. You will need this for shopping, traveling, and making friends. It is one of the most common patterns in the language.
Don't worry, it is much simpler than it looks at first. Let's dive in and see how it works.

How This Grammar Works

Think of the noun's ending like a removable hat. To make it plural, you take off the singular hat and put on a plural hat. For feminine nouns, there are two main hats: -и and -і. The choice depends entirely on the last letter of the singular word.
If the word ends in a hard sound like -а, it gets the -и hat. If it ends in a soft sound like -я, it gets the -і hat. It is a very consistent system.
Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are tired! Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop and check the ending.
Green means swap it and keep talking. You will get the hang of it quickly with a little practice.

Formation Pattern

1
Follow these three easy steps to pluralize any standard feminine noun:
2
Look at the singular noun. Check the very last letter.
3
If the noun ends in -а, drop the -а and add -и. For example, мама (mom) becomes мами (moms).
4
If the noun ends in -я, drop the -я and add -і. For example, вулиця (street) becomes вулиці (streets).
5
Special case: If the noun ends in a soft sign -ь or a sibilant like ш or ч, use -і. For example, ніч (night) becomes ночі (nights).
6
It is basically a game of Swap the Vowel. Keep the stem of the word exactly the same. Only the very last sound changes.

When To Use It

Use this plural form whenever you are talking about more than one thing. This is the standard plural used for general counting. Use it when you are making a grocery list for яблука (apples).
Use it when you are looking for аптеки (pharmacies) in a new city. It is perfect for describing your family or your hobbies. If you are at a cafe and want two coffees, things get slightly tricky.
But if you are talking about coffees in general, use кави. It is the default setting for more than one. You will use this in almost every conversation you have in Ukraine.

When Not To Use It

There is one big trap you need to avoid. Do not use this plural form directly after the numbers 2, 3, or 4. Ukrainian has a special rule for those numbers.
They use a different form that looks like the singular. Save this -y/-i plural for the number 5 and above. Also, use it when you don't use a number at all.
For example, say
many книги
but
two книги
is actually дві книги (which looks the same here, but the stress changes!). Okay, maybe that was a bad example. Let's use мама.
Many мами
is correct.
Two мами
is дві мами. Wait, they look similar?
Ukrainian stress is the real boss here! Just remember: for general many, use this rule.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is using -и for everything. It is tempting because -и is very common. But if you say вулици instead of вулиці, it sounds a bit crunchy to a local. Another mistake is forgetting the stress shift. Some words like водá (water) change to вóди (waters) in plural. The stress jumps from the end to the beginning. It is like the word is doing a little dance. Don't stress too much about the stress yet, though. People will still understand you. Just try to listen to how natives say it. Also, don't forget that some nouns that look feminine might be masculine. But that is a story for another day!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Masculine nouns also use -и and -і for plurals, but their starting point is different. Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant. Feminine nouns almost always end in a vowel.
This makes feminine nouns easier to spot! Also, don't confuse this with the Genitive singular. Sometimes they look identical.
For example, мами can mean of mom or moms. Context is your best friend here. If you see a group of women, мами means plural. If you see a mom's bag, it might be Genitive.
It is like a twin situation—they look the same but act differently.

Quick FAQ

Q

What if the word ends in -а but it's a man, like папа?

It still follows the feminine plural pattern! папи.

Q

Does this work for all feminine nouns?

For about 95% of them, yes. It is a very reliable rule.

Q

Is the -и sound like the 'i' in bit?

Not quite. It is deeper, like you are surprised. Think of the 'y' in myth.

Q

Is the -і sound like ee?

Exactly! Like the 'ee' in see.

Feminine Plural Formation

Singular Plural Rule
Книга
Книги
-а -> -и
Пісня
Пісні
-я -> -і
Сім'я
Сім'ї
-я -> -ї
Машина
Машини
-а -> -и
Школа
Школи
-а -> -и
Країна
Країни
-а -> -и

Meanings

The nominative plural is used when feminine nouns are the subject of a sentence or the focus of a statement.

1

Basic Pluralization

Indicating more than one feminine object or person.

“Машини нові.”

“Дівчата співають.”

2

Collective Subjects

Describing groups of feminine entities.

“Подруги прийшли.”

“Школи зачинені.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Nominative Plural for Feminine Nouns (-y/-i)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + verb
Книги лежать.
Negative
Не + noun + verb
Книги не лежать.
Question
Noun + verb?
Книги лежать?
Plural -а
Change to -и
Карта -> Карти
Plural -я
Change to -і
Пісня -> Пісні
Plural -я (vowel)
Change to -ї
Сім'я -> Сім'ї

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
Книги знаходяться на столі.

Книги знаходяться на столі. (Describing location)

중립
Книги на столі.

Книги на столі. (Describing location)

비격식체
Книжки на столі.

Книжки на столі. (Describing location)

속어
Книжки валяються на столі.

Книжки валяються на столі. (Describing location)

Feminine Plural Map

Feminine Noun

Ends in -а

  • Карта Map

Ends in -я

  • Пісня Song
무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

1

Це карти.

These are maps.

2

Мої подруги тут.

My friends are here.

1

Ці пісні дуже гарні.

These songs are very beautiful.

2

Школи сьогодні зачинені.

Schools are closed today.

1

Усі країни мають свої традиції.

All countries have their traditions.

2

Нові машини стоять на парковці.

New cars are in the parking lot.

1

Наукові теорії часто змінюються.

Scientific theories often change.

2

Великі компанії шукають нових людей.

Big companies are looking for new people.

1

Сучасні технології полегшують життя.

Modern technologies make life easier.

2

Ці дискусії вимагають уваги.

These discussions require attention.

1

Історичні події формують нації.

Historical events shape nations.

2

Соціальні мережі впливають на думки.

Social networks influence thoughts.

혼동하기 쉬운

Nominative Plural for Feminine Nouns (-y/-i) 대 Genitive Plural

Learners use Nominative for counting.

Nominative Plural for Feminine Nouns (-y/-i) 대 Masculine Plural

Mixing up -и/-і with -и/-і endings for masculine.

Nominative Plural for Feminine Nouns (-y/-i) 대 Accusative Plural

Using Nominative when the noun is an object.

자주 하는 실수

✗

Книгаі

✓

Книги

Don't add -і to -а nouns.
✗

Пісняи

✓

Пісні

Don't add -и to -я nouns.
✗

Машина

✓

Машини

Forgot to pluralize.
✗

Сім'яи

✓

Сім'ї

Incorrect apostrophe usage.
✗

Пісні

✓

Пісні

Correct, but check verb agreement.
✗

Карта

✓

Карти

Subject-verb disagreement.
✗

Країни

✓

Країни

Check context for case.
✗

Школи

✓

Школи

Check for genitive context.
✗

Теорії

✓

Теорії

Check for declension.
✗

Дискусії

✓

Дискусії

Check for case.
✗

Події

✓

Події

Check for case.
✗

Мережі

✓

Мережі

Check for case.

문장 패턴

Мої ___ дуже гарні.

Де мої ___?

Ці ___ нові.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Фотографії супер!

Classroom very common

Де мої ручки?

Travel common

Ці вулиці гарні.

무료 가입하고 모든 예문 보기
💡

Check the last letter

Always look at the last letter of the singular noun first.
⚠️

Don't add -s

Ukrainian doesn't use -s for plurals.
🎯

Practice with verbs

Always pair your plural noun with a plural verb.

Smart Tips

Check the last letter: -а or -я?

Книга → Книги

Check if your verb matches the noun's number.

Книга лежить → Книги лежать

Remember to use -ї for plural.

Сім'я → Сім'ї

발음

kny-hy vs pis-ni

Vowel change

The -и sound is slightly deeper than -і.

Statement

Книги на столі ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'A' as 'Alone' (singular) and 'I' as 'In a group' (plural).

시각적 연상

Imagine a single apple (а) turning into a pile of apples (и) on a table.

Rhyme

If it ends in -а, make it -и, if it ends in -я, make it -і.

Story

Olena has one book (книга). She goes to the library and gets many books (книги). She sings one song (пісня) and then sings many songs (пісні) with her friends.

Word Web

КнигаКартаПісняМашинаШколаСім'я

챌린지

Find 5 feminine objects in your room and write their plural forms in 5 minutes.

문화 노트

Pluralizing words like 'family' (сім'я) is very common as family is central to culture.

Derived from Proto-Slavic endings.

대화 시작하기

“

Які книги ти любиш?

“

Де твої подруги?

“

Які школи найкращі?

일기 주제

Write about 3 things you have in your bag.
Describe your favorite songs.
List the countries you want to visit.

자주 하는 실수

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Make the noun plural: Книга -> ___

Книги

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Книги
-а becomes -и.
Which is correct? 객관식

Пісня -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Пісні
-я becomes -і.
Fix the sentence: Машина нові. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Машини нові.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Машини нові
Subject must be plural.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Карти, Пісні, Сім'ї
Correct endings applied.

Score: /4

연습 문제

4 exercises
Make the noun plural: Книга -> ___

Книги

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Книги
-а becomes -и.
Which is correct? 객관식

Пісня -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Пісні
-я becomes -і.
Fix the sentence: Машина нові. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Машини нові.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Машини нові
Subject must be plural.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

Карта, Пісня, Сім'я

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Карти, Пісні, Сім'ї
Correct endings applied.

Score: /4

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

Most do, but some end in a consonant. Those are a different rule.

That is already plural or a special case.

Yes, if the subject is plural, the verb must be too.

Yes, 'подруги' (friends) is a perfect example.

Because of the apostrophe, it takes -ї.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

무료 가입하고 연습하기

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Adding -s or -es

Ukrainian changes the final vowel, Spanish adds a suffix.

French low

Adding -s

Ukrainian endings are always pronounced.

German low

Various endings (-e, -er, -en)

Ukrainian is more consistent for feminine nouns.

Japanese none

Context or suffixes like -tachi

Ukrainian is highly inflected.

Arabic low

Broken plurals or suffixes

Ukrainian is more predictable.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The Infinitive Form (-ty)
Next
Locative Case for Places with Preposition 'na' (on/at)

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