Words that are always plural in Russian

  My husband and I were talking (in English) about chess the other day, and I referred to the game as 'them'. He asked me why, and I realized it was because chess in Russian – шахматы – is always plural. It's not the only word like that. For example, just like in English scissors and trousers are always plural, their Russian brothers are plural as well.

брюки - (formal) trousers

штаны - trousers, pants

джинсы - jeans 

шорты - shorts 

ножницы - scissors 

плоскогубцы (пассатижи) - lineman's pliers

кусачки (острогубцы) - diagonal pliers, wire cutters

щипцы - tongs, pliers, hair crimper

вилы - pitchfork

ворота - gate, gates

очки - glasses

шахматы - chess

весы - weigh-scales

часы - clock, watch

носилки - litter, palanquin, stretchers

Ножницы is always plural.

деньги - money

Plural form — exceptions in Russian

  Some words in Russian don't want to have a normal plural form. You have to memorize them.

друг — друзья friends

брат — братья brothers

мать — матери mothers

дочь — дочери daughters

сын — сыновья sons

муж — мужья husbands

человек — люди people

ребёнок — дети children

учитель — учителя teachers

доктор — доктора doctors
ухо — уши ears

лист — листья leaves

дерево — деревья trees

Interesting that most of these words are related to humans.