Pluralwort

Pluralwort is a term from traditional German grammar used to describe a word whose standard usage is in the plural, with little or no use in the singular. In this sense it overlaps with the concept modern linguists usually call pluralia tantum, but the label Pluralwort comes from older grammars and is largely of historical interest.

Historically, Pluralwörter were catalogued as a distinct class in 18th- and 19th-century German grammar works. They often included nouns that denote items typically encountered as a countable plural, collections, or aggregates, as well as certain mass terms that are treated primarily in plural contexts. When a singular form exists, it is sometimes archaic, irregular, or only used in specific compounds or phrases rather than as a direct, standalone singular noun.

In contemporary linguistics the category is seldom used, and the term pluralia tantum is generally preferred to describe words that occur only in the plural in standard usage. Nevertheless, the historical notion of Pluralwort remains relevant for understanding the development of German grammar, lexicography, and regional language descriptions, where singular usage may be infrequent or differently established.

See also: Pluralia tantum, Singularia tantum, German grammar history.