A1 Geral 6 min read Fácil

Plural Nominative Endings (Masculine nouns)

To make masculine nouns plural, replace the singular ending with -i to indicate multiple subjects or quantities 2-9.
Marcar como aprendido
Pratique

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make most masculine nouns plural in Latvian, change the ending to -i or -ji.

  • Nouns ending in -s change to -i (e.g., draugs -> draugi).
  • Nouns ending in -is change to -i (e.g., brālis -> brāļi).
  • Nouns ending in -us change to -i (e.g., tirgus -> tirgi).
Noun (singular) - ending + 'i' = Noun (plural)

Overview

Welcome to the world of Latvian plurals! You already know how to name one thing. Now, let's learn how to talk about many things.
In Latvian, masculine nouns are very common. They usually end in -s, -š, -is, or -us. Making them plural is like giving them a team uniform.
Most of the time, that uniform is the letter -i. It is one of the most useful patterns you will learn. Think of it as the 'party' ending.
One friend is a draugs. Many friends? That is a draugi party!
Learning this helps you navigate daily life. You can order multiple drinks. You can talk about your brothers.
You can even find the right department in a store. It is simple, logical, and very satisfying to master. Let's dive in and see how it works.

How This Grammar Works

Latvian does not use words like 'the' or 'a'. Instead, the ending of the word does all the heavy lifting. The ending tells you if the noun is masculine or feminine.
It also tells you if there is one or many. For masculine nouns, the plural nominative is the 'naming' form. You use it when the nouns are the stars of your sentence.
If the nouns are doing the action, they need this ending. The plural nominative is the base for many other grammar rules. Once you know this, you are halfway to speaking fluent Latvian.
It is like building with Lego bricks. You just swap the singular 'brick' for the plural 'brick'. Even if you forget the exact word, getting the ending right helps people understand you.
Yes, even native speakers appreciate the effort when you get your plurals right!

Formation Pattern

1
Changing a noun from singular to plural follows a clear recipe. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2
Identify the singular ending of the masculine noun. It will be -s, -š, -is, or -us.
3
Remove that singular ending completely. You are left with the 'stem' of the word.
4
Add the plural ending -i to the stem.
5
For 1st declension nouns (-s or -š):
6
galds (table) becomes galdi (tables).
7
ceļš (road) becomes ceļi (roads).
8
For 2nd declension nouns (-is):
9
This one has a tiny twist called palatalization. Some consonants change their sound to stay 'soft'.
10
brālis (brother) becomes brāļi. Notice the l turns into ļ.
11
skapis (cupboard) becomes skapji. We add a little j sound.
12
For 4th declension nouns (-us):
13
These are rare, but they follow the same -i rule.
14
tirgus (market) becomes tirgi (markets).

When To Use It

You use the plural nominative in several key scenarios. First, use it when the nouns are the subject. For example: Zēni spēlē futbolu (The boys are playing football).
The boys are the ones doing the action. Second, use it when you are simply naming a group of things. If you point at a pile of books and say 'books', you use žurnāli.
Third, use it with the numbers 2 through 9. In Latvian, these numbers require the plural nominative. If you are at a cafe and want two coffees (if coffee were masculine, which it isn't, but let's use 'beers'), you say divi ali.
This is vital for shopping and ordering food. It is also the form you see on signs. If a sign says Vīrieši, it means 'Men'.
It is the most direct way to talk about groups of people or objects.

When Not To Use It

Don't use this ending for everything! Grammar has boundaries, like a traffic light. Do not use the plural nominative after the number 1.
For one thing, always use the singular. Do not use it after the number 10, 20, or any number ending in zero. Those numbers prefer a different ending called the Genitive.
Also, avoid this form if the noun is the object of the sentence. If you are 'eating' the apples, the apples change their ending. Finally, don't use it after most prepositions like ar (with) or pie (at).
Those words have their own favorite endings. It might feel like a lot to remember, but start with the subject. If the noun is the boss of the sentence, the plural nominative is your friend.

Common Mistakes

The most common 'oops' moment is forgetting palatalization in -is nouns. Saying brāli instead of brāļi sounds a bit like saying 'brother's' instead of 'brothers'. It is a small sound change, but it makes you sound much more natural. Another mistake is using the plural after the number zero or ten. It is tempting to say desmit lati, but the correct way is desmit latu. Think of it as a special rule for 'round' numbers. Also, watch out for feminine nouns! They look different in the plural. If a word ends in -a or -e, it is feminine and won't take the -i ending. Mixing them up is like wearing one shoe and one boot. It works, but it looks a bit funny!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

How do masculine plurals compare to feminine ones? Masculine nouns love the letter -i. Feminine nouns, however, love the letters -as or -es.
For example, māja (house) becomes mājas. upe (river) becomes upes. It is a completely different 'vibe'.
Also, don't confuse the plural -i with the singular -is. A kaķis is one cat. kaķi are many cats.
The difference is just one tiny 's'! It is like the difference between 'cat' and 'cats' in English, but the 's' moves around. Once you see the pattern, you will start spotting it everywhere.
It is like a secret code that suddenly makes sense.

Quick FAQ

Q

Does every masculine noun end in -i in the plural?

Almost all of them in the nominative case! It is a very reliable rule.

Q

What if I don't know if a word is masculine?

Check the singular. If it ends in -s, -š, -is, or -us, it is masculine.

Q

Is palatalization hard?

It takes practice, but there are only a few common letter changes to learn.

Q

Can I use -i for a group of men and women?

Yes! In Latvian, a mixed group always uses the masculine plural form.

Masculine Plural Formation

Singular Plural Meaning
Galds
Galdi
Tables
Draugs
Draugi
Friends
Brālis
Brāļi
Brothers
Skolotājs
Skolotāji
Teachers
Tirgus
Tirgi
Markets
Dators
Datori
Computers

Meanings

The plural nominative case is used for masculine nouns when they are the subject of a sentence in the plural form.

1

Subjective Plural

Used when multiple masculine entities perform an action.

“Studenti mācās.”

“Suņi rej.”

2

Predicate Nominative

Used after the verb 'to be' (būt) to describe what the subjects are.

“Viņi ir ārsti.”

“Tie ir koki.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Plural Nominative Endings (Masculine nouns)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + i
Galdi ir šeit.
Negative
Nē + Noun + i
Nē, galdi nav šeit.
Question
Vai + Noun + i
Vai galdi ir šeit?
Short Answer
Jā/Nē
Jā, tie ir.
Predicate
Ir + Noun + i
Tie ir galdi.
Plural Subject
Noun + i + Verb
Draugi nāk.

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
Draugi ir ieradušies.

Draugi ir ieradušies. (Meeting friends)

Neutro
Draugi ir šeit.

Draugi ir šeit. (Meeting friends)

Informal
Draugi ir klāt.

Draugi ir klāt. (Meeting friends)

Gíria
Čomi ir te.

Čomi ir te. (Meeting friends)

Masculine Plural Logic

Masculine Noun

Ending -s

  • Galds Table

Ending -is

  • Brālis Brother

Ending -us

  • Tirgus Market
Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

1

Galdi ir lieli.

The tables are big.

2

Draugi ir mājās.

The friends are at home.

1

Studenti lasa grāmatas.

The students are reading books.

2

Brāļi spēlē futbolu.

The brothers are playing football.

1

Skolotāji apspriež jauno plānu.

The teachers are discussing the new plan.

2

Ārsti strādā slimnīcā.

The doctors work in the hospital.

1

Direktori pieņēma svarīgu lēmumu.

The directors made an important decision.

2

Kaimiņi vienmēr ir laipni.

The neighbors are always kind.

1

Vēsturnieki pēta senos dokumentus.

The historians are researching ancient documents.

2

Mākslinieki izstāda savus darbus.

The artists are exhibiting their works.

1

Filozofi analizē eksistenciālos jautājumus.

The philosophers are analyzing existential questions.

2

Inženieri projektē jaunu infrastruktūru.

The engineers are designing new infrastructure.

Fácil de confundir

Plural Nominative Endings (Masculine nouns) vs Genitive Plural

Both involve plural forms, but genitive is for possession.

Plural Nominative Endings (Masculine nouns) vs Feminine Plural

Different endings (-as/-es).

Plural Nominative Endings (Masculine nouns) vs Singular Genitive

Ends in -a, which looks like a plural in some languages.

Erros comuns

✗

Galdss

✓

Galdi

Adding an extra s instead of changing the ending.
✗

Draugs

✓

Draugi

Using the singular form for plural.
✗

Brālis

✓

Brāļi

Forgetting the consonant change.
✗

Tirgus

✓

Tirgi

Keeping the -us ending.
✗

Datori

✓

Datori

Correct, but sometimes learners use -i for feminine nouns.
✗

Skolotājs

✓

Skolotāji

Incorrect vowel choice.
✗

Cilvēks

✓

Cilvēki

Incorrect stem modification.
✗

Draugi

✓

Draugi

Correct, but sometimes learners confuse with genitive.
✗

Brāļi

✓

Brāļi

Confusion with other declensions.
✗

Vēsturnieks

✓

Vēsturnieki

Over-complicating the stem.
✗

Ārsti

✓

Ārsti

Confusion with adjective agreement.
✗

Inženieri

✓

Inženieri

Incorrect pluralization of foreign loanwords.

Padrões de frases

___ ir šeit.

Vai ___ ir lieli?

Mani ___ ir gudri.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Draugi, kur mēs tiekamies?

Job Interview common

Mūsu direktori ir prasīgi.

Travel common

Kur ir tirgi?

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos
💡

Check the gender

Always identify if the noun is masculine before changing the ending.
⚠️

Watch for palatalization

Some consonants change (e.g., l -> ļ) before the 'i'.
🎯

Practice with lists

Make lists of masculine objects to memorize the plural form.

Smart Tips

Check if it's the subject of the sentence.

Draugs ir šeit. → Draugi ir šeit.

Remember to check for palatalization.

Brālis ir liels. → Brāļi ir lieli.

Look at the verb ending to see if it's plural.

Draugs nāk. → Draugi nāk.

Pronúncia

ee (short)

Vowel length

The 'i' in the plural ending is usually short.

Statement

Galdi ir šeit ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of the 'i' as a crowd of people standing in a line; it's the plural marker.

Associação visual

Imagine a single 's' (singular) turning into a tall 'i' (plural) as it grows into a group.

Rhyme

Singular ends in s, plural ends in i, that's how we talk in Latvia, you and I!

Story

One day, a lonely 'Galds' (table) felt sad. Suddenly, a magic wand touched it, the 's' vanished, and an 'i' appeared. Now there were many 'Galdi' (tables) having a party!

Word Web

GaldiDraugiBrāļiSkolotājiDatoriSuņi

Desafio

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

Notas culturais

Latvians are precise with grammar; using the correct plural ending is a sign of respect.

Derived from Proto-Baltic nominal inflections.

Iniciadores de conversa

“

Kas ir tavā somā?

“

Kas ir tavi draugi?

“

Kādi ir tavi mērķi?

Temas para diário

Describe your friends.
List items in your office.
Discuss your colleagues.

Erros comuns

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Make 'Draugs' plural.

___ nāk ciemos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Draugi is the plural nominative.
Which is correct? Múltipla escolha

Kuri ir ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Galdi is the plural form.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Brālis spēlē futbolu (plural).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Brāļi is the plural subject.
Translate 'The teachers are here'. Tradução

___ ir šeit.

Answer starts with: b...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Skolotāji is the plural subject.

Score: /4

Exercicios praticos

4 exercises
Make 'Draugs' plural.

___ nāk ciemos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Draugi is the plural nominative.
Which is correct? Múltipla escolha

Kuri ir ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Galdi is the plural form.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Brālis spēlē futbolu (plural).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Brāļi is the plural subject.
Translate 'The teachers are here'. Tradução

___ ir šeit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Skolotāji is the plural subject.

Score: /4

Perguntas frequentes (6)

Most do, but there are exceptions in other declensions.

Usually, they end in -s, -š, or -is.

No, it's usually short.

No, feminine nouns have different endings.

It also becomes -i.

Yes, it is the standard plural form.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Cadastre-se grátis para praticar

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Adding -s or -es

Latvian changes the stem vowel, Spanish just adds a suffix.

French low

Adding -s (often silent)

Latvian pluralization is always pronounced.

German moderate

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

Latvian is more predictable for masculine nouns than German.

Japanese none

Adding -tachi or context

Japanese is agglutinative/contextual; Latvian is inflectional.

Arabic low

Broken plurals or suffixes

Arabic internal changes are more varied than Latvian's.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The Second Declension (Nouns ending in -is)
Next
Possessive Pronouns (mans, tavs, viņa, viņas)

Related Grammar Rules

A1

The Second Declension (Nouns ending in -is)

Overview Welcome to the world of the Latvian Second Declension! If you have already met the First Declension (nouns end...
A1

Possessive Pronouns (mans, tavs, viņa, viņas)

Overview Welcome to the world of belonging! In Latvian, we love to know who owns what. It is like putting a name tag on...
A1

The Fifth Declension (Nouns ending in -e)

Overview Welcome to the world of Latvian nouns! Today, we explore the Fifth Declension. These are nouns that end in the...
Was this helpful?

Comentários (0)

Faça Login para Comentar
Nenhum comentário ainda. Seja o primeiro a compartilhar suas ideias!