Plural Formation

• for a definition of plural see Plural (definition)
• for an article on the inflection of adjectives in the plural see XXX

Attenuation (Slenderization)

Orthographic i

Make the final consonant slender orthographically by inserting an i before the final consonant (attenuate the final consonant). This sometimes shifts the pronunciation of the final vowel as well. /bor'əNəx/ --> /bor'əNiç/.

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
an cat	na cait	cat
am boireannach	na boireannaich	woman
an t-òran	na h-òrain	song

Orthographic vowel change

Make the final vowel slender (attenuate it) by changing the orthographic vowel

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
an t-iasg	na h-èisg	fish
am bòrd	na bùird	table

Suffix (e)an

Suffix -an

Common singular	Common/Dative Plural	English
a' bhròg	na brògan	shoe
a' bhùth	na bùthan	shop
a' chraobh	na chraobhan	tree
an gille	na gillean	boy
a' nighean	na nigheanan	girl
an làr	an làran
an leanabh	na leanabhan	child
am pàisde	na pàisdean	infant
a' phòg	na pògan	kiss
a' sgian	na sgianan	knife

Suffix -ean

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
an taigh	na taighean	house
an t-iasgadair	na h-iasgadairan	fisherman
an caraid	na caraidean	friend
an càird	na càirdean	relative

Make slender and suffix -ean

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
an clàrsach	na clàrsaichean	harp
an rathad	na rathaidean	road
am monadh	na monaidhean	moor

Syncope and suffix -(e)an

Adjust new consonant cluster to meet Broad and Slender of original final consonant, then suffix -ean or -an

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
an t-ubhal	na h-ubhlan	egg
am bràthair	na bràithrean	brother

Suffix anan

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Suffix t(e)an

(other changes including deleting final vowel and broadening and making slender)

Common singular	Common/Dative plural	English
am baile	na bailtean		a' bheinn	na beanntan	mountain
an sgoil	na sgoiltean

Suffix (a)ichean/achan

Suffix aichean

singular	plural	English
am bus	na busaichean	bus
an car	na càraichean	car
an t-ogha	na h-oghaichean	grandchildren

Suffix -ichean

singular	plural	English
an bocsa	na bocsaichean	box
am bàta	na bàtaichean	boat
an t-ogha	na h-oghaichean	grandchildren

Syncope and Suffix -aichean

singular	plural	English
an seòmar	na seòmraichean	box
cathair	cathraichean	chair

Irregular Plurals

singular	plural	English
a' bhò	na ba	cow
a' chaora	na caoraich	sheep
an cù	na coin	dog
an duine	na daoine	husband/person
an mac	na mic	son
a' mhuir	na marannan	sea
a' phiuthair	na peathraichean	sister

References

• Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications.