Meervouds

Meervouds is the Dutch term for the plural, the grammatical category used when referring to more than one unit of a noun or other word class. In Dutch grammar, the meervoud is contrasted with the enkelvoud (singular). The plural form affects nouns, pronouns, and adjectives that modify nouns, and it often requires agreement with verbs in sentences.

Formation of the meervoud in Dutch varies by word and origin. The most common plural endings are -en and -s. Many native Dutch nouns form the plural by adding -en, sometimes accompanied by changes in spelling or vowels within the word. Others form the plural with -s, which is especially common for loanwords or words ending in certain sounds. Some nouns show irregular plurals that involve vowel changes or stem modifications, such as man → mannen, vrouw → vrouwen, kind → kinderen, and stad → steden. A small number of nouns leave their form unchanged in the plural.

Orthography and usage considerations are part of meervoud rules. For borrowed words and abbreviations, plurals are often written with -s (for example auto’s, foto’s), and an apostrophe is sometimes used to avoid ambiguity or misreading when the word ends with a vowel or is a single letter (A’s, X’s). Style guides vary on whether an apostrophe is required in all such cases, but the -s ending is widely accepted for many foreign words.

Meervouds can also function as an adjective or as part of terms describing plurality, such as meervoudsvorm (plural form) or meervoudig (plural, multiple). Understanding the meervoud is essential for correct noun-verb agreement and for clear communication in Dutch.