A singular noun has no specific suffix indicating that it is singular: nuH ("weapon") refers to a single weapon of any type. However the absence of a plural suffix does not always mean the noun is singular. A noun without a plural suffix may still refer to more than one entity. The plurality is often indicated by a pronominal element - either a verb prefix (see section 4.1), a full pronoun (section 5.1), or simply by context.

For example, yaS ("officer") can refer to a single officer or a group of officers, depending on other words in the sentence:

• yaS vImojpu' - I became an officer.
• yaS DImojpu' - We became officers.
• yaS jIH - I am an officer.
• yaS maH - We are officers.

In the first pair, the verb prefixes (vI- for "I", DI- for "we") signal number. In the second pair, the subject pronouns (jIH for "I", maH for "we") provide that information.

Sometimes, only context clarifies whether a noun is singular or plural. For instance, yaS mojpu' could mean "he/she became an officer" or "they became officers", depending on what the speaker and listener already know.

Fortunately, it is never incorrect to explicitly mark a noun as plural using a plural suffix. Both yaS maH and yaSpu' maH ("we are officers") are grammatically correct. However, you cannot add a plural suffix to a noun referring to only one thing. The sentence yaSpu' jIH ("I am officers") is incorrect in Klingon.

Klingon uses three plural suffixes, depending on the type of noun:

-pu' (plural for beings capable of using language)

This suffix is used for people and other intelligent beings.

• yaS - officer → yaSpu' - officers
• Duy - emissary → Duypu' - emissaries

-Du' (plural for body parts)

This suffix is used exclusively for body parts, regardless of the type of creature.

• qam - foot → qamDu' - feet
• tlhon - nostril → tlhonDu' - nostrils

-mey (general plural)

This suffix is used for non-speaking beings, inanimate objects, and abstract nouns. It may also be used with speaking beings to add a sense of "scattered all about."

• mID - colony → mIDmey - colonies
• yuQ - planet → yuQmey - planets
• puq - child → puqmey - children (scattered everywhere)

The suffix -mey cannot be used with body parts. However, poets may violate this rule for stylistic effect - for example, tlhonmey (nostrils scattered about). Until you understand such poetic nuances, stick to the grammatical rule.

Inherently Plural Nouns

Some nouns are always plural and never take plural suffixes:

• ray' - targets
• cha - torpedoes
• chuyDaH - thrusters

These have distinct singular counterparts:

• DoS - target
• peng - torpedo
• vIj - thruster

The singular forms can take -mey, but this implies a scattered or disorganized arrangement:

• DoSmey - targets scattered all about
• pengmey - torpedoes all over the place

Even though inherently plural nouns like cha are conceptually plural, they are treated grammatically as singular nouns. For example:

• cha yIghuS - Stand by torpedoes! (Note: yI- is the singular imperative prefix)