How to Form Plural Nouns in Romanian: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Romanian Nouns and Their Genders

In Romanian, nouns have genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. This gender affects how nouns form their plural. Unlike English, where plural is usually formed by adding -s or -es, Romanian plurals change depending on the noun's gender and ending.

Forming Plurals for Feminine Nouns

Most feminine nouns end in -ă or a consonant. To form the plural:

• Nouns ending in -ă change to -e. For example, fată (girl) becomes fete (girls).
• Nouns ending in a consonant usually add -e. For example, floare (flower) becomes flori (flowers).

Note that some feminine nouns ending in -e form plurals irregularly, so it's good to learn them case by case.

Forming Plurals for Masculine Nouns

Masculine nouns often end in a consonant or -u. Their plural forms are:

• Nouns ending in a consonant usually add -i. For example, băiat (boy) becomes băieți (boys).
• Nouns ending in -u often change to -i. For example, frate (brother) becomes frați (brothers).

Some masculine nouns have irregular plurals, so practice and exposure are important.

Neuter Nouns: A Special Case

Neuter nouns behave like masculine nouns in the singular and feminine nouns in the plural. This means:

• Singular form is like masculine nouns, often ending in a consonant or -u.
• Plural form is like feminine nouns, usually ending in -e or -i.

For example, un birou (a desk - neuter) becomes două birouri (two desks). Notice the plural ending -uri, which is common for neuter nouns.

Common Plural Endings in Romanian

Here are some typical plural endings based on noun gender and ending:

• Feminine nouns ending in -ă: change to -e (e.g., casă → case)
• Feminine nouns ending in consonant: add -e or change to -i (e.g., floare → flori)
• Masculine nouns ending in consonant: add -i (e.g., băiat → băieți)
• Masculine nouns ending in -u: often change to -i (e.g., frate → frați)
• Neuter nouns: plural often ends in -uri (e.g., birou → birouri)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Romanian Plurals

Romanian plurals can seem complex at first, but here are some tips to help:

1. Learn the gender of nouns as you learn the word; it affects plural formation.
2. Practice common plural endings and notice patterns.
3. Use flashcards with singular and plural forms.
4. Listen to native speakers and repeat plural forms aloud.
5. Don't worry about exceptions at first; focus on the most common rules.