Neuter Plural Nouns: All end with an 'a' or 'ya'- type sound
1. For neuter nouns ending with -о, remove the -о and replace it with -a
Example, окно (window) / окна (windows)
Window
окно
Pronounced:
ak-nO
Audio:
(Lena)
Windows
окна
Pronounced:
Ok-na
Audio:
(Lena)
2. For neuter nouns ending with -е, remove the -е and replace it with -я
Example, платье (dress) / платья (dresses)
Dress
платье
Pronounced:
plA-tyeh
Audio:
(Lena)
Dresses
платья
Pronounced:
plA-tya
Audio:
(Lena)
Rare Exceptions
And finally (you're not going to want to hear this!), there are some rare exceptions to all these rules that you simply have to learn by heart.
Example, город (city; a masculine noun) / города (cities)
City
город
Pronounced:
gOr-adt
Audio:
(Lena)
Cities
города
Pronounced:
ga-ra-dA
Audio:
(Lena)
Example, друг (friend; a masculine noun) / друзья (friends)
Friend
друг
Pronounced:
droogk
Audio:
(Lena)
Friends
друзья
Pronounced:
drooz-YA
Audio:
(Lena)
Example, яблоко (apple; a neuter noun) / яблоки (apples)
Apple
яблоко
Pronounced:
YA-bl-ka
Audio:
(Lena)
Apples
яблоки
Pronounced:
YA-bl-kih
Audio:
(Lena)
Spelling vs. Speaking
This is an advanced lesson because of the specific spelling rules for which there are many exceptions.
Neuter nouns are a bit more tricky than masculine or feminine nouns because you need to remember that -o is relaced by an 'a' sound, and -e is replaced by a 'ya' sound.
But as a beginner just try to remember that both forms of plural neuter nouns have an 'a'-type sound at the end.
