A compendious guide to the Low-Dutch language / Korte wegwyzer der Nederduytsche taal

Of the Number of the Nouns.

Numbers are twofold Singular and Plural: and most Nouns terminate their Plurals in en or n, some also in s, and some in both. However Monosyllables end alwayes in en, Except Kók Cook, kóks cooks; and Maat when it signifies fellow, for then the Plural is Maats; but if it stands for Measure, then the Plural is Maaten; so Boot a Boot and Breast-jewel, Boots Boats, Booten Breast-jewels.

Nouns making their Plurals in en are as followeth.

Gat Hole.	Gaten Holes.
Kruyd Herb.	Kruyden Herbs.
Zoon Son.	Zoonen Sons.
Hand Hand.	Handen Hands.
Been Leg.	Beenen Legs.
Muur Wal.	Muuren Wallen.
Ketting Chain.	Kettingen Chains.

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Gebód Command.	Geboden Commandements.
Vat Vessel.	Vaten Vessels.
Brood Loaf.	Brooden Loaves.
Slót Lock.	Sloten Locks.
Aal Eel.	Aalen Eels.
Lot Lot.	Loten Lots.
Slang Snake.	Slangen Snakes.
Gebéd Prayer.	Gebeden Prayers.
Olifant Elefant.	Olifanten Elefants.
Omgang Circuit, procession.	Omgangen Circuits, processions.

Likewise all Nouns ending in ing, as

Draaijing Turning.	Draaijingen Turnings.
Beweeging Motion.	Beweegingen Motions.
Reyniging Cleansing.	Reynigingen Cleansings.
Wederspreeking Gainsaying.	Wederspreekingen Gainsayings.
Leerling Disciple.	Leerlingen Disciples.
Sterveling Mortal.	Stervelingen Mortals.

Some of these that make the plural in en, double their last letter, as

Bed Bed.

Bedden Beds.

[p. 30]

Brug Bridge.	Bruggen Bridges.
Bux Box.	Bussen Boxes.
Knóp Bud.	Knóppen Buds.
Lip Lip.	Lippen Lips.
Bril Spectacles.	Brillen More than one pair of spectacles.
Gek Fool.	Gekken Fools.
Rók Coat.	Rókken Coats.
Pót Pot.	Pótten Pots.
Zak Bag.	Zakken Bags.
Trap Step, stair.	Trappen Stairs, steps.
Bal Ball.	Ballen Balls.

Those that end in f generally change that letter in v, as.

Lyf Body.	Lyven Bodies.
Graf Grave.	Graven Graves.
Gaaf Gift.	Gaaven Gifts.
Húyf Coif.	Huyven Coifs.
Hóf Garden, court.	Hoven Gardens, courts.
Dief Thief.	Dieven Thieves.
Wolf Wolf.	Wolven Wolves.
Wyf Wife.	Wyven Wives.

Exc. Bef Band, Beffen Bands, Mof Muff, Moffen Mufs, Straf Punishment, Straffen Punishments.

Those that end in s, have the Plural generally in zen, as.

Blaas Bladder.

Blaazen Bladders.

[p. 31]

Doos Box.	Doozen Boxes.
Huys House.	Huyzen Houses.
Glass Glass.	Glazen Glasses.
Roos Rose.	Roozen Roses.
Muys Mouse.	Muyzen Mouses.

Exc. Bus Box, Bussen Boxes, Kus Kiss, Kussen Kisses.

Words ending in en or aar and el terminate in the Plural in s and en, as

Vader Father.

Vaders and Vaderen, Fathers.

Broeder Brother.

Broeders and Broederen, Bretheren.

Zuster Sister.

Zusters and Zusteren, Sisters.

Meester Master.

Meesters and Meesteren, Masters.

Vervólger Persecutor.

Vervólgers and Vervólgeren, Persecutors

Schryver Writer.

Schryvers and Schryveren, Writers.

Leeraar Teacher.

Leeraars and Leeraaren, Teachers.

Minnaar Lover.

Minnaars and Minnaaren, Lovers.

Distel Thistle.

Distels and Distelen, Thistles.

Appel Appel.

Appels and Appelen, Apples.

[p. 32]

Tafel Table.

Tafels and Tafelen, Tables.

Geessel Whip.

Geessels and Geesselen, Whips.

Vogel Birds.

Vogels and Vogelen Birds.

Deksel Cover.

Deksels and Dekselen, Covers.

To these may be added Keten Chain, ketens an ketenen chains, Schepen a Justice, Schepens or schepenen Justices, Jongen boy, jongens, jongers boys, and jongeren lads or disciples. Yet it ought to be noted, thô it is not observed so generally, that these Plurals in s are properly the Nominatives, and those in en the Genitives, and Datives, or Ablatives.

Dimunitives make their Plurals to end in s, as

Hondtje a Little dog.

Hondtjes Little dogs.

Steentje a Little stone.

Steentjes Little stones.

Panneken a Little pan.

Pannekens Little pans.

Boomken a Little tree.

Boomkens Little trees.

Kindtje a Little child

Kindeken a Little child.

[p. 33]

Kindertjes Little children

Kinderkens Little children.

Nouns ending in e have their Plural in en, as

Boode Messenger.	Booden Messengers.
Henne Hen.	Hennen Hens.
Heere Lord.	Heeren Lords.
Zee Sea.	Zeën Sea.
Reyze Journey.	Reyzen Journeys, voyages.
Stede Town.	Steden Towns, cities.
Offerande Offering.	Offeranden Offering.

But of these there are but few; although formerly it was very usual to say in the Nominativ Bedde, mensche, spyze, mótte, padde, graave, vrouwe. Yet now we say Bed Bed, mensch man, spys meat, pad, toad, graaf earl, vrouw woman, using the other in the Genitive or Dative, or it may be Ablative Case.

Nouns ending in heyd alter their Singular into heden in the Plural, as Boosheyd wickedness, boosheden wickednesses, uytmuntendheyd excellency, uytmuntendheden excellencies.

Some Nouns are Irregular in the Plural by increasing their Syllables, as

Vólk People,

Vólken and vólkeren Nation.

[p. 34]

Been Bone.	Beenderen Bones. for Beenen signifies Leggs.
Blad Leave.	Bladen or Bladeren Leaves.
Gemoed Mind.	Gemoederen Minds.
Kind Child.	Kinderen Children.
Rad Wheel.	Raderen Wheels.
Lied Song.	Liederen Songs.
Hoen Hen.	Hoenderen Hens.
Ey Egg.	Eyeren Eggs.
Kalf Calf.	Kalveren Calves.
Lam Lamb.	Lammeren Lambs.
Reden Discours.	Rédenen Discourses, reasons.
Rund Bullock.	Runderen Bulloks.
Land	Land, country.
Landen Countries.	Landeryen Lands.
Stad City.	Steden Cities.	} are also Irregular.
Schip Schip.	Schepen Ships.	} are also Irregular.
Leer Doctrine,	Leeringen Doctrines.

Severall Nouns have no Plural number, as

Kaf Chaf.	Pik Pitch.
Vlas Flax.	Gras Grass
Pekel Pickel.	Rógge Ry.
Honig Hony.	Zout Sals.

Some few Nouns want the Singular number, as

Hersenen Brains.

[p. 35]

Ouders Parents.

Lieden Folks.