Plural with umlaut only (der Apfel → die Äpfel)
Plural mit Umlaut (ohne Endung)
Some masculine nouns (and a few feminine) form the with only an and no ending.
Structure
Nomen + Umlaut (a→ä, o→ö, u→ü) → die …
noun + umlaut (a→ä, o→ö, u→ü) → die …
Details
- Part of Speech
- Noun
- Word Type
- Plural formation
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
Some nouns form the with just an umlaut and no ending - only the stem vowel changes (a→ä, o→ö, u→ü). This is common with masculine nouns ending in -el, -er, -en, and with a couple of feminines.
- der Apfel → die Äpfel - apples
- der Vogel → die Vögel - birds
- die Mutter → die Mütter - mothers
- die Tochter → die Töchter - daughters
Remember: nothing is added to the end - the word looks the same except for the umlauted vowel. The is always die.
Example: Die Äpfel sind rot. - The apples are red.
About Plural with umlaut only (der Apfel → die Äpfel)
Some masculine nouns (and a few feminine) form the with only an and no ending.
No ending is added - only the vowel becomes an (a/o/u → ä/ö/ü). Often masculine nouns in -el/-er/-en.
Einige maskuline (und wenige feminine) bilden den nur mit , ohne Endung.
Caution
Only the stem vowel changes: der Apfel → die Äpfel, die Mutter → die Mütter. No ending is added.