pluralinflected

Pluralinflected is a linguistic term used to describe word forms that encode number through inflection, specifically indicating plurality. It contrasts with forms or constructions that rely on particles, numerals, or word order to signal more than one referent. In languages with plural inflection, the plural meaning is built into the form of the word itself, rather than added as a separate word or determined solely by context.

Morphology of plural inflection often involves affixation or internal modification of the stem. Common strategies include suffixes, prefixes, infixes, vowel changes (ablaut), or a combination of these. Some languages maintain a single plural form across all cases, while others alternate the plural signal depending on grammatical case, gender, or person. Suppletion or irregular plural paradigms also occur in many language families, reflecting historic sound changes.

Cross-linguistic variation is significant. Many Indo-European languages have noun or adjective plurals marked on the inflected form, though the exact system and robustness vary. Other language groups employ extensive plural inflection on multiple parts of speech, while some languages rely heavily on numerals, classifiers, or context rather than inflecting for number. In some languages, plural inflection interacts with agreement on adjectives and verbs, producing concord within noun phrases and predicate structures.

In linguistic analysis, plural inflection is a key parameter in typology and morphology. Researchers may compare how languages mark plurality, how plural forms behave in syntactic constructions, and how plural inflection evolves historically.