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Nouns: Gender & Basic Plurals

Understand grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and learn common plural endings.

Nouns: Gender & Basic Plurals

In Bulgarian, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. This affects adjectives and some verb forms. This lesson also covers common ways to make nouns plural.

Grammatical Gender

Unlike English, Bulgarian assigns a gender to all nouns, whether they refer to people, objects, or abstract concepts. You usually identify gender by the noun's ending in its singular form.

Identifying Gender (Common Patterns)

  • Маса (MA-sa) - Table: Ends in -а or -я: Typically Feminine
  • Стол (Stol) - Chair: Ends in a consonant: Typically Masculine
  • Дете (De-TE) - Child: Ends in -е or -о: Typically Neuter

Exceptions Exist!

Grammar Tip

While endings are a good guide, there are exceptions. For example, "баща" (father) ends in -а but is masculine. Learning gender often comes with memorizing vocabulary.

Forming Plurals

Plural forms also depend on the gender and ending of the singular noun. Here are some common patterns:

Common Plural Endings

  • Masculine nouns ending in a consonant: add -и or -ове: стол (chair) -> столове (chairs); мъж (man) -> мъже (men - irregular)
  • Feminine nouns ending in -а/-я: change to -и: маса (table) -> маси (tables); жена (woman) -> жени (women)
  • Neuter nouns ending in -е: change to -ета: дете (child) -> деца (children - irregular); море (sea) -> морета (seas)
  • Neuter nouns ending in -о: change to -а: село (village) -> села (villages)

Irregular Plurals

Grammar Tip

Bulgarian has many irregular plural forms that don't follow simple rules (e.g., мъж -> мъже; дете -> деца). These need to be memorized.

Using Genders and Plurals

Dialogue Example

Това е голям стол. (To-VA e go-LYAM stol) - This is a big chair. (Masculine)

Тези маси са нови. (TE-zi MA-si sa NO-vi) - These tables are new. (Feminine plural)

Виждам две деца. (VIZH-dam dve de-TSA) - I see two children. (Neuter plural, irregular)

Key Takeaways
  • Bulgarian nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.
  • Noun endings often indicate gender (consonant for M, -а/-я for F, -е/-о for N).
  • Plural endings vary based on gender and singular ending.
  • Many common nouns have irregular plural forms.
  • Gender agreement is important for adjectives (covered in a later lesson).
Further Practice

Word Lists & Games

Pay attention to noun endings in the Word Lists. The Transliteration Game also features many nouns you can practice.

Review Vocabulary

Test Your Knowledge

A quiz for this lesson will be available soon to help you check your understanding and reinforce your learning.