Portuguese Blog

Today we’re going to do the last part in the plural nouns series, to finish up with the irregular nouns.

1. Words ending in al

With these nouns, the al changes to ais.

sinal –> sinais  [stoplight -> stoplights]

capital –> capitais  [capital -> capitals]

moral –> morais  [moral --> morals]

2. Words ending in el

Here, el becomes éis.

papel –> papéis  [paper -> papers]

anel –> anéis  [ring -> rings]

hotel –> hoteis [hotel -> hotels]

3. Words ending in il

These nouns change their endings to is.

funil –> funis  [funnel --> funnels]

barril –> barris [barrel --> barrels]

4. Words ending in ol

These nouns have their endings changed to óis.

lençol –> lençóis
farol –> faróis

Plural nouns in Portuguese can be a little confusing, so we’re going to take a look at them in a three part series.

Today, we’re going to look at the set of regular nouns, which are the easiest to deal with.

1. Words ending in vowels
Just add an “s.”

janela –> janelas [window -> windows]
cotovelo –> cotovelos [elbow -> elbows]
jacaré –> jacarés [crocodile -> crocodiles}

2. Words ending in "r" "s" or "z"
Add an "es."

cor--> cores [color -> colors]
mês –> meses [month -> months]*
chafariz –> chafrizes [fountain -> fountains]

*note that the circumflex disappears in the plural

3. Words that are always plural

os parabéns [congratulations]
as costas   [back] of body
os óculos   [eyeglasses]
as férias  [vacation]