4 ms·
Yes, but there are only about 24 German nouns that form their plural just by adding two little dots like that (Umlaut). Four of them mean close relatives and ar
by bloak 3y ago
Yes, but there are only about 24 German nouns that form their plural just by adding two little dots like that (Umlaut). Four of them mean close relatives and are recognisable to English speakers: Vater, Mutter, Bruder, Tochter.
A while ago I came across an ancient copy of "Teach Yourself German" printed around the start of the Second World War. The very first chapter had a list of those German nouns that form their plural just with an Umlaut and instructed the reader to learn them. I bet you won't find many books published today that start like that. I like to think there are still a few people around who learnt German by reading that edition, perhaps during an air raid.