Pluralizing Suffix
suffix
You'll see this attached to other words to make them plural. That's why it's called a pluralizing suffix.
Note that you can only attach this to people and animals to make them plural. It can also be used with a person's name, like マリアたち. In that case, it refers to Maria and the group of people she's with! This might sound a little complicated, but you'll get the hang of it with a little practice!
This is almost the same reading you learned with the kanji. Remember たつ? Well this is read たち. Here's a mnemonic to help you remember it:
If you want to pluralize something, touch (たち) it to something else. One friend touches another friend, well now they're friends. Plural friends! All thanks to the good ol' pluralizing suffix touch!
Oh, and don't type the 〜 out when writing the answer. It's just there to let you know that there's usually something attached in front of this word.
コウイチ達、一体どこに行ったんだろう。
I wonder where Koichi and the others went.
学生達は毎日パーティーばかりしていました。
Students were partying every day.
あなた達はまだ未成年でしょう。
Aren’t you still minors?