Grammar A1–A2 5 min read Updated 10 June 2026

The plural of child is children. It is an irregular plural — not childs or childrens. The –ren ending is an Old English plural marker, also seen in oxen (from ox).

Why Is the Plural “Children”?

Most English nouns form their plural by adding –s or –es (book → books, box → boxes). Child is one of a small group of irregular nouns that use a completely different ending. The form children descends directly from Old English cildren, in which –ren (or –en) was a common plural suffix. By the time of Middle English the form had settled into children and it has remained unchanged ever since.

Knowing this history makes it easier to accept the form. It is not a quirk or an error — it is one of the oldest surviving features of the English language, shared with oxen (the plural of ox) and the archaic brethren (a formal plural of brother).

Common Errors to Avoid

Two mistakes are extremely common among learners at all levels:

  • Childs — this form does not exist. Never write childs. Because child is irregular, you cannot simply add –s.
  • Childrens — this form does not exist either. Children is already the plural. Adding a further –s creates a double plural, which is incorrect in standard English.

The only correct plural is children, and it is used in exactly the same positions as any regular plural noun.

Children in Sentences

Because children is a plural noun, it always takes a plural verb.

The children are playing outside.

She has three children.

Children need plenty of sleep.

These children speak two languages.

The children is playing outside. (incorrect — plural subject requires plural verb)

She has three childs. (incorrect — childs does not exist)

Possessive Forms: Child’s and Children’s

Many learners also confuse the possessive forms. The rules are straightforward once you know them:

  • Child’s — possessive singular (one child). The apostrophe comes before the s, as normal: the child’s toy, a child’s imagination, the child’s bedroom.
  • Children’s — possessive plural (more than one child). Because children does not end in –s, you add ’s in the usual way: the children’s toys, a children’s hospital, the children’s playground.

The key rule: when a plural noun does not end in –s (like children, men, women), you form the possessive by adding ’s, just as you would for a singular noun. Do not write childrens’ (no apostrophe before the final s) — that form is incorrect because children already ends in –en, not –s.

the child’s toy (one child owns the toy)

the children’s toys (the children own the toys)

a children’s book (a book for children)

the childrens’ toys (incorrect apostrophe position)

the childrens toys (missing apostrophe entirely)

Quick-Reference Summary

Form Correct? Example
children ✓ Correct plural She has three children.
childs ✗ Does not exist ~~She has three childs.~~
childrens ✗ Does not exist ~~She has three childrens.~~
child’s ✓ Possessive singular The child’s toy is lost.
children’s ✓ Possessive plural The children’s playground is open.
childrens’ ✗ Incorrect apostrophe ~~The childrens’ playground~~
Memory Tip

Think of the pair: one ox → many oxen; one child → many children. Both words use the same Old English –en/–ren pattern instead of a simple –s. If you can remember oxen, you can remember children.

Other Irregular Plurals Like Children

English has a small number of nouns that form their plural with –en or –ren rather than –s. Knowing this group as a set makes them easier to remember:

  • child → children
  • ox → oxen
  • brother → brethren (archaic/formal religious use; the normal plural is brothers)

All other common irregular plurals in English use a vowel change (man → men, woman → women, tooth → teeth, foot → feet, mouse → mice, goose → geese) or have the same form for singular and plural (sheep → sheep, fish → fish). The –ren pattern makes children one of a kind.

Children in Academic and Formal Writing

In formal writing — reports, essays, academic papers, or official documents — the correct plural is always children without exception. You may encounter compound forms: grandchildren (plural of grandchild), stepchildren (plural of stepchild), godchildren (plural of godchild). All follow the same –ren pattern: grandchild → grandchildren, stepchild → stepchildren, godchild → godchildren.

For more on irregular plurals and other tricky grammar patterns, see our article on English Grammar for Beginners. You can also practise possessives and plurals using our Grammar Quiz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the plural of child?
The plural of child is children. It is an irregular plural — not childs or childrens. Example: "The children are playing outside." Children is used like any plural noun and always takes a plural verb.
Why is the plural of child “children” and not “childs”?
Child is an irregular noun that does not follow the standard rule of adding –s or –es. Instead it uses the Old English plural ending –ren, giving children. This ending has been part of English since before the Norman Conquest and has never changed. The form childs simply does not exist in standard British or American English.
Is “childrens” a word?
No. Childrens is not a word in standard English. Children is already the plural of child, so adding a further –s creates an incorrect double plural. The possessive plural form is children’s (with an apostrophe before the s): "the children’s playground." That apostrophe s shows possession, not plurality.
What is the possessive form of child?
There are two possessive forms depending on number. The possessive singular is child’s (apostrophe before the s): "the child’s toy." The possessive plural is children’s (apostrophe after the n, before the s): "the children’s books." Because children does not end in s, you treat it like a singular noun when adding the possessive: always ’s.
What is the difference between “child’s” and “children’s”?
Child’s is the possessive of the singular noun child (one child): "a child’s imagination." Children’s is the possessive of the plural noun children (more than one child): "a children’s hospital." The key difference is number: one child or many children. Both use the same apostrophe –s pattern because neither ends in a bare s.
Are there other English nouns that form their plural with –ren or –en?
Yes, though very few survive in modern English. The clearest parallel is ox → oxen. The archaic religious word brethren (a formal plural of brother) also uses this pattern, though brothers is the normal modern plural. Children is by far the most common everyday example of the –ren plural ending in current use.
How do I use “children” in a sentence correctly?
Use children exactly as you would any regular plural noun, but remember it always requires a plural verb. Correct: "The children are ready." "Many children enjoy reading." "Her children go to the local school." Incorrect: "The children is ready" (wrong verb form). Because children is already plural, never use it with numerals preceded by a: say "three children," not "three child."
What CEFR level is the word “children”?
Children is an A1 vocabulary item — one of the first words learners at absolute beginner level encounter. However, spelling the word correctly and understanding that it is already plural (never adding –s) are points that trip up learners at A2 and even B1 level. The possessive form children’s and correct apostrophe use are typically consolidated at A2–B1.
What are the plural forms of “grandchild,” “stepchild,” and “godchild”?
All compound nouns ending in –child follow the same irregular pattern: grandchild → grandchildren, stepchild → stepchildren, godchild → godchildren. The –ren plural always replaces –s for the child element, regardless of what is added to the front. The same applies to possessives: the grandchildren’s presents, the stepchildren’s rooms.
Can “child” ever be used as a plural?
No. Child is only ever singular. You cannot say "three child" or "many child" in standard English. The plural is always children: "three children," "many children," "a group of children." The only context in which child appears near a number is in compounds or descriptive phrases that modify a singular idea: "a child actor," "child labour," "child benefit" — but these are not plurals; they use child as a modifier (adjective-like) before another noun.