> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.i18next.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.i18next.com/translation-function/plurals.md).

# Plurals

Plural forms in i18next: the \_one, \_other and other CLDR suffixes per language, ordinal plurals, interval plurals and the count option.

Plural can be combined with interpolation, context, ...

These plurals are streamlined with the one used in the [Intl API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Intl/PluralRules/PluralRules).\
\=>*In environments without* [*Intl.PluralRules*](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/PluralRules) *support you need to* [*polyfill*](https://github.com/eemeli/intl-pluralrules) *it (notably React Native: the Hermes engine still does not implement `Intl.PluralRules`). Since i18next v24 there is no fallback: without Intl only English-style `_one`/`_other` forms resolve.*

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}
{% hint style="danger" %}
Note: The variable name must be `count`.\
And it must be present: `i18next.t('key', {count: 1});`\
There will be **no** fallback to the `'key'` value if count is not provided.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="TypeScript" %}
{% hint style="danger" %}
Note: The variable name must be `count`.\
And it must be present: `i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 1});`\
There will be **no** fallback to the `'key'` property if count is not provided.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
If you need multiple counts, take a look at [nesting](/translation-function/nesting.md#passing-options-to-nestings)
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
We provide the ability to have special translation for `{count: 0}`, so that a more natural language can be used. If the count is 0, and a `_zero` entry is present, then it will be used instead of the language plural suffix.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
🎓 Check out this topic in the [i18next crash course video](https://youtu.be/SA_9i4TtxLQ?t=485).
{% endhint %}

## Singular / Plural

keys

```javascript
{
  "key_one": "item",
  "key_other": "items",
  "keyWithCount_one": "{{count}} item",
  "keyWithCount_other": "{{count}} items"
}
```

sample

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}

```javascript
i18next.t('key', {count: 0}); // -> "items"
i18next.t('key', {count: 1}); // -> "item"
i18next.t('key', {count: 5}); // -> "items"
i18next.t('key', {count: 100}); // -> "items"
i18next.t('keyWithCount', {count: 0}); // -> "0 items"
i18next.t('keyWithCount', {count: 1}); // -> "1 item"
i18next.t('keyWithCount', {count: 5}); // -> "5 items"
i18next.t('keyWithCount', {count: 100}); // -> "100 items"
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="TypeScript" %}

```typescript
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 0}); // -> "items"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 1}); // -> "item"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 5}); // -> "items"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 100}); // -> "items"
i18next.t($ => $.keyWithCount, {count: 0}); // -> "0 items"
i18next.t($ => $.keyWithCount, {count: 1}); // -> "1 item"
i18next.t($ => $.keyWithCount, {count: 5}); // -> "5 items"
i18next.t($ => $.keyWithCount, {count: 100}); // -> "100 items"
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
With [v21.0.0](/misc/migration-guide.md#json-format-v4-pluralization) a new [JSON format v4](/misc/json-format.md#i-18-next-json-v4) was introduced that changed the suffixes.\
To convert your existing translations to the new v4 format, have a look at [i18next-v4-format-converter](https://github.com/i18next/i18next-v4-format-converter) or [this web tool](https://i18next.github.io/i18next-v4-format-converter-web/).
{% endhint %}

## Languages with multiple plurals

Sample uses arabic which has 5 plural forms beside the singular.

keys

```javascript
{
  "key_zero": "zero",
  "key_one": "singular",
  "key_two": "two",
  "key_few": "few",
  "key_many": "many",
  "key_other": "other"
}
```

sample

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}

```javascript
i18next.t('key', {count: 0}); // -> "zero"
i18next.t('key', {count: 1}); // -> "singular"
i18next.t('key', {count: 2}); // -> "two"
i18next.t('key', {count: 3}); // -> "few"
i18next.t('key', {count: 4}); // -> "few"
i18next.t('key', {count: 5}); // -> "few"
i18next.t('key', {count: 11}); // -> "many"
i18next.t('key', {count: 99}); // -> "many"
i18next.t('key', {count: 100}); // -> "other"
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="TypeScript" %}

```typescript
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 0}); // -> "zero"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 1}); // -> "singular"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 2}); // -> "two"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 3}); // -> "few"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 4}); // -> "few"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 5}); // -> "few"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 11}); // -> "many"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 99}); // -> "many"
i18next.t($ => $.key, {count: 100}); // -> "other"
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## How to find the correct plural suffix?

You can use this small utility to get the correct plural suffixes.

[source code](https://jsfiddle.net/6bpxsgd4)

*Or try* [*translation-check*](https://github.com/locize/translation-check)*, it shows an overview of your translations in a nice UI. It shows also the appropriate plural forms.*

#### Or you use a smart translation management system, like [locize](https://www.locize.com/i18next?utm_source=i18next_com\&utm_medium=gitbook\&utm_campaign=translation_function_plurals\&from=i18next_tf-plurals__cta)

![](https://286188001-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9iS6Wm2hynS5H9Gj7j%2F-MX2rpXr6D3UrjwHPOqm%2F-MX2s2PKNH3dqXxCShCx%2Flocize_plurals.png?alt=media\&token=a93a4d64-6c13-4e19-9d1f-c9ae9c898e8f)

## Ordinal plurals

There is also support for ordinal numbers *(referring to the ordering or ranking of things, e.g. "1st", "2nd", "3rd" in English)*. The `ordinal` option (and the \_ordinal suffix) tells the helper to use the ordinal digit to determine the plurality key used. E.g., for "32" the ordinal digit is "2" so `key_two` is used.

keys

```javascript
// i.e. english
{
  "key_ordinal_one": "{{count}}st place", // 1st, 21st, 31st
  "key_ordinal_two": "{{count}}nd place", // 2nd, 22nd, 32nd
  "key_ordinal_few": "{{count}}rd place", // 3rd, 23rd, 33rd
  "key_ordinal_other": "{{count}}th place" // 4th, 5th, 24th, 11th
}
```

sample

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}

```javascript
i18next.t('key', { count: 1, ordinal: true }); // -> "1st place"
i18next.t('key', { count: 21, ordinal: true }); // -> "21st place"
i18next.t('key', { count: 2, ordinal: true }); // -> "2nd place"
i18next.t('key', { count: 11, ordinal: true }); // -> "11th place"
i18next.t('key', { count: 32, ordinal: true }); // -> "32nd place"
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="TypeScript" %}

```typescript
i18next.t($ => $.key, { count: 1, ordinal: true }); // -> "1st place"
i18next.t($ => $.key, { count: 21, ordinal: true }); // -> "21st place"
i18next.t($ => $.key, { count: 2, ordinal: true }); // -> "2nd place"
i18next.t($ => $.key, { count: 11, ordinal: true }); // -> "11th place"
i18next.t($ => $.key, { count: 32, ordinal: true }); // -> "32nd place"
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Interval plurals

Want to define phrases expressing the number of items lies in a range. Like *a few items* or *a lot of items*.

You will need to add a post processor: [i18next-intervalplural-postprocessor](https://github.com/i18next/i18next-intervalplural-postprocessor)

```javascript
import i18next from 'i18next';
import intervalPlural from 'i18next-intervalplural-postprocessor';

i18next
  .use(intervalPlural)
  .init(i18nextOptions);
```

keys

```javascript
{
  "key1_one": "{{count}} item",
  "key1_other": "{{count}} items",
  "key1_interval": "(1)[one item];(2-7)[a few items];(7-inf)[a lot of items];",
  "key2_one": "{{count}} item",
  "key2_other": "{{count}} items",
  "key2_interval": "(1)[one item];(2-7)[a few items];"
}
```

sample

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}

```javascript
i18next.t('key1_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 1}); // -> "one item"
i18next.t('key1_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 4}); // -> "a few items"
i18next.t('key1_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 100}); // -> "a lot of items"

// not matching into a range it will fallback to
// the regular plural form
i18next.t('key2_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 1}); // -> "one item"
i18next.t('key2_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 4}); // -> "a few items"
i18next.t('key2_interval', {postProcess: 'interval', count: 100}); // -> "100 items"
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="TypeScript" %}

```typescript
i18next.t($ => $.key1_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 1}); // -> "one item"
i18next.t($ => $.key1_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 4}); // -> "a few items"
i18next.t($ => $.key1_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 100}); // -> "a lot of items"

// not matching into a range it will fallback to
// the regular plural form
i18next.t($ => $.key2_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 1}); // -> "one item"
i18next.t($ => $.key2_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 4}); // -> "a few items"
i18next.t($ => $.key2_interval, {postProcess: 'interval', count: 100}); // -> "100 items"
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
Note: The regex for the interval entry has changed in `v3.0.0` of `i18next-intervalPlural-postProcessor` so if you are using the older versions, you need to use the curly braces instead of the bracketes, e.g.:

```javascript
"key2_interval": "(1){one item};(2-7){a few items};"
```

{% endhint %}