Module 02 · The noun · Lietvārds · Level A1
Plural of Nouns
Lietvārdu daudzskaitlis
The plural is formed according to declension. There is one trap — consonant palatalization in declension 2.
| Decl. | Singular | Plural | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -s / -š | -i | galds → galdi, ceļš → ceļi |
| 2 | -is | -i + palatalization | brālis → brāļi, skapis → skapji, mēnesis → mēneši |
| 3 | -us | -i | tirgus → tirgi |
| 4 | -a | -as | māja → mājas |
| 5 | -e | -es | upe → upes |
| 6 | -s | -is | sirds → sirdis, acs → acis |
Palatalization (palatalizācija)
In declension 2, before the plural ending (and in the singular genitive), the final consonant of the stem changes:
| Was | Becomes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| l → ļ | brālis → brāļi | |
| n → ņ | mākonis → mākoņi | |
| t → š | latvietis → latvieši | |
| d → ž | briedis → brieži | |
| s → š | mēnesis → mēneši | |
| z → ž | vēzis → vēži | |
| c → č | lācis → lāči | |
| p, b, m, v → pj, bj, mj, vj | skapis → skapji, gulbis → gulbji |
Exceptions with no palatalization: viesis → viesi, tētis → tēti.
Plural-only words
These need to be memorized as plural forms: durvis (door), brokastis (breakfast), pusdienas (lunch), vakariņas (dinner), svētki (holiday), Jāņi, kāzas (wedding), bēres (funeral), dusmas (anger), skumjas (sadness), ziņas (news), bikses (trousers), brilles (glasses), Ziemassvētki (Christmas), Lieldienas (Easter). The verb that goes with them is plural too: Durvis ir atvērtas. (literally "the door(s) are open").
Exercise
Form the plural: skola, dzīvoklis, tilts, meitene, zivs, kaimiņš, ledus, kolēģis.
Answers
skolas · dzīvokļi · tilti · meitenes · zivis · kaimiņi · ledi · kolēģiOpen the lesson in the trainer — with exercises and a “done” mark →Module test 02