A0 Plurals 1 min read Facile

Plural Nouns: Introduction

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Croatian, nouns change their ending based on gender to show they are plural; focus on the -i, -e, and -a endings.

  • Masculine nouns usually add -i: 'pas' (dog) becomes 'psi' (dogs).
  • Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -e: 'žena' (woman) becomes 'žene' (women).
  • Neuter nouns ending in -o/-e change to -a: 'selo' (village) becomes 'sela' (villages).
Noun (singular) + Ending Change = Noun (plural)

Nominative Plural Endings

Gender Singular Ending Plural Ending Example (Singular) Example (Plural)
Masculine
Consonant
-i
stol
stolovi
Feminine
-a
-e
kuća
kuće
Neuter
-o
-a
selo
sela
Neuter
-e
-a
more
mora
Feminine
Consonant
-i
riječ
riječi

Meanings

Pluralization indicates that there is more than one of a specific noun. In Croatian, this is marked by changing the suffix of the word.

1

Basic Plural

Indicates multiple items of the same category.

“Knjige su na stolu.”

“Studenti uče hrvatski.”

2

Collective Plural

Used for groups of items that function as a single unit.

“Djeca se igraju.”

“Braća idu u školu.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Plural Nouns: Introduction
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + Verb
Psi laju.
Negative
Ne + Verb + Noun
Psi ne laju.
Question
Verb + Noun?
Laju li psi?
Short Answer
Da/Ne
Da, psi laju.
Plural Subject
Noun(pl) + Verb(pl)
Djeca trče.
Plural Object
Verb + Noun(pl)
Vidim knjige.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Knjige se nalaze na stolu.

Knjige se nalaze na stolu. (Describing location)

Neutre
Knjige su na stolu.

Knjige su na stolu. (Describing location)

Informel
Knjige su na stolu.

Knjige su na stolu. (Describing location)

Argot
Knjige su tu.

Knjige su tu. (Describing location)

Croatian Plural Gender Map

Noun

Masculine

  • stol table
  • pas dog

Feminine

  • kuća house
  • mačka cat

Neuter

  • selo village
  • more sea

Exemples par niveau

1

Ovo su psi.

These are dogs.

2

Ovo su knjige.

These are books.

3

Ovo su sela.

These are villages.

4

Gdje su stolovi?

Where are the tables?

1

Moje prijateljice su ovdje.

My friends (female) are here.

2

Kupio sam nove cipele.

I bought new shoes.

3

Naša djeca idu u školu.

Our children go to school.

4

Gradovi su puni ljudi.

Cities are full of people.

1

Ti su projekti vrlo zahtjevni.

Those projects are very demanding.

2

Svi su studenti položili ispit.

All students passed the exam.

3

Ove su ideje inovativne.

These ideas are innovative.

4

Mora su danas mirna.

The seas are calm today.

1

Neki su zakoni zastarjeli.

Some laws are outdated.

2

Njezine su riječi bile oštre.

Her words were sharp.

3

Svi su muškarci pozvani.

All men are invited.

4

Ovi su problemi kompleksni.

These problems are complex.

1

Njegovi su stavovi duboko ukorijenjeni.

His views are deeply rooted.

2

Sve su mogućnosti otvorene.

All possibilities are open.

3

Ti su događaji promijenili povijest.

Those events changed history.

4

Ove su činjenice neosporne.

These facts are indisputable.

1

Svi su narodi težili slobodi.

All nations aspired to freedom.

2

Njezine su vizije nadilazile vrijeme.

Her visions transcended time.

3

Ovi su procesi inherentno nestabilni.

These processes are inherently unstable.

4

Sve su nade bile izgubljene.

All hopes were lost.

Facile à confondre

Plural Nouns: Introduction vs Gender vs. Plural

Learners confuse the gender of the noun with the plural ending.

Plural Nouns: Introduction vs Nominative vs. Genitive

Learners use Nominative plural instead of Genitive plural after numbers.

Plural Nouns: Introduction vs Collective Nouns

Learners treat collective nouns as singular.

Erreurs courantes

✗

knjigas

✓

knjige

English speakers often add 's'.
✗

pasovi

✓

psi

Over-generalizing the -ovi ending.
✗

selo-i

✓

sela

Applying masculine endings to neuter nouns.
✗

žena-i

✓

žene

Applying masculine endings to feminine nouns.
✗

stol-e

✓

stolovi

Using feminine endings for masculine nouns.
✗

more-i

✓

mora

Using masculine endings for neuter nouns.
✗

kuća-a

✓

kuće

Incorrect vowel change.
✗

studenti-e

✓

studenti

Double pluralizing.
✗

dječaci-a

✓

dječaci

Incorrect case usage.
✗

grad-a

✓

gradovi

Missing the plural suffix.
✗

narodi-e

✓

narodi

Incorrect suffix.
✗

vizije-i

✓

vizije

Incorrect suffix.
✗

procesi-e

✓

procesi

Incorrect suffix.

Structures de phrases

Ovo su ___.

Gdje su ___?

Moje ___ su ovdje.

Svi ___ su važni.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Pogledajte ove slike!

Texting constant

Gdje su frendovi?

Job Interview common

Moji su projekti uspješni.

Travel common

Gdje su hoteli?

Food Delivery common

Želim dvije pizze.

University common

Studenti su u dvorani.

💡

Gender First

Always identify the gender of the noun before pluralizing.
⚠️

No English S

Do not add an 's' to make a noun plural.
🎯

Verb Agreement

Ensure your verbs match the plural noun.
💬

Use Context

Listen to how native speakers use plurals.

Smart Tips

Always learn the gender with the noun.

stol → stol (masculine)

Check the verb agreement.

Knjiga su na stolu. → Knjige su na stolu.

Look for the plural endings.

Grad je velik. → Gradovi su veliki.

Don't fear mistakes.

Imam dva pas. → Imam dva psa.

Prononciation

i, e, a

Vowel length

Plural endings are usually short.

Declarative

Knjige su ovdje. ↘

Statement of fact

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Remember 'I-E-A': Masculine gets 'I', Feminine gets 'E', Neuter gets 'A'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant 'I' for men, a flowing 'E' for women, and a round 'A' for things.

Rhyme

Masculine ends in I, Feminine ends in E, Neuter ends in A, that's how it's meant to be!

Story

A man (masculine) walks with an 'i' in his hand. A woman (feminine) wears an 'e' on her dress. A child (neuter) plays with an 'a' block.

Word Web

stolkućaselopasmačkamore

Défi

Look around your room and name 5 items in their plural form.

Notes culturelles

Plurals are used strictly for countability.

Some dialects use different plural endings.

Emphasis on collective nouns.

Croatian plural endings are derived from Proto-Slavic.

Amorces de conversation

“

Što vidiš na stolu?

“

Koliko prijatelja imaš?

“

Koji su tvoji omiljeni gradovi?

“

Kako se mijenjaju ovi procesi?

Sujets d'écriture

List 5 things in your room.
Describe your friends.
Write about your favorite cities.
Discuss the importance of books.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Pluralize 'stol'.

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stolovi
Masculine nouns add -ovi.
Pluralize 'kuća'. Choix multiple

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kuće
Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -e.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ovo su selo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ovo su sela.
Neuter nouns ending in -o change to -a.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Knjige su na stolu.
Standard word order.
Translate to Croatian. Traduction

These are dogs.

Answer starts with: Ovo...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ovo su psi.
Irregular plural for 'pas'.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stolovi
Correct match.
Pluralize 'more'. Conjugation Drill

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mora
Neuter plural.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

prijatelji / su / ovdje

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prijatelji su ovdje.
Correct structure.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Pluralize 'stol'.

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stolovi
Masculine nouns add -ovi.
Pluralize 'kuća'. Choix multiple

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kuće
Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -e.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ovo su selo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ovo su sela.
Neuter nouns ending in -o change to -a.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

su / knjige / stolu / na

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Knjige su na stolu.
Standard word order.
Translate to Croatian. Traduction

These are dogs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ovo su psi.
Irregular plural for 'pas'.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

stol - ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stolovi
Correct match.
Pluralize 'more'. Conjugation Drill

Ovo su ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mora
Neuter plural.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

prijatelji / su / ovdje

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prijatelji su ovdje.
Correct structure.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Some masculine nouns take -ovi instead of -i.

Yes, but they are limited.

Look at the last letter.

No, never.

Yes, they must agree.

No, this is only Nominative.

Use flashcards.

Yes, learn them as you go.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Adding -s or -es

Croatian uses gender-specific endings.

French low

Adding -s

Croatian changes the actual word ending.

German moderate

Various endings + Umlaut

Croatian is more systematic.

Japanese none

Contextual

Croatian requires explicit marking.

Arabic partial

Broken plurals

Croatian uses suffix changes.

Chinese none

Particle 'men'

Croatian uses suffix changes.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Common Nouns for People and Objects

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Nominative Plural Endings for Nouns
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