alemanes
/ah-leh-MAH-ness/
Germans
This image shows two people, representing the noun 'alemanes' (Germans).
📝 In Action
Los alemanes tienen fama de ser muy organizados.
A1Germans have a reputation for being very organized.
Muchos alemanes vienen a España de vacaciones.
A2Many Germans come to Spain for vacation.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural Noun
This word is the plural form for referring to a group of German people. It can refer to a group of men, or a mixed group of men and women.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Accents in Plurals
Mistake: "Using the accent from the singular: *los alemánes*"
Correction: The accent is dropped in the plural form 'alemanes' because the stress naturally falls on the second-to-last syllable when you add the 'es'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
Unlike in English, nationalities are NOT capitalized in Spanish unless they start a sentence. Write 'los alemanes', not 'los Alemanes'.
Three sausages, representing the adjective 'alemanes' (German) describing multiple masculine objects.
alemanes(adjective)
German
?Describing something that is masculine and plural
of Germany
?Origin or quality
📝 In Action
Los coches alemanes son muy fiables.
A1German cars are very reliable.
Estudiamos los métodos alemanes de ingeniería.
B1We are studying the German methods of engineering.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'alemanes' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Use this form only when describing masculine plural nouns (e.g., 'coches', 'perros', 'libros').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Gender
Mistake: "La cerveza alemanes (The German beer)"
Correction: Since 'cerveza' (beer) is feminine, you must use the feminine form: 'La cerveza alemana'. For plural feminine nouns like 'ciudades' (cities), use 'ciudades alemanas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
Nationality adjectives almost always go AFTER the noun they modify. Say 'el perro alemán' (the German dog), not 'el alemán perro'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alemanes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'alemanes' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the singular 'alemán' have an accent, but the plural 'alemanes' does not?
Spanish accent rules dictate that words ending in 'n' that are stressed on the last syllable need an accent (like 'alemán'). When you add 'es' to make it plural ('alemanes'), the stress naturally shifts back to the second-to-last syllable ('MAH-ness'), following the general rule for most Spanish words. Therefore, the written accent is no longer necessary.
How do I refer to a group of German women?
You must use the feminine plural form: 'alemanas'. For example, 'Las alemanas ganaron el partido' (The German women won the game).