A1 French GrammarPlural Nouns
Learn to form plurals in French. Most nouns add -s to become plural (invisible in speech but important in writing). Some nouns have special plural forms with -x or -aux endings. Master both regular and irregular plural patterns.
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1Regular Plurals (-s)
The most common way to form plurals in French is adding -s to the singular noun. This -s is silent in speech, so you can only hear the plural through the article (le/la → les) or other context. The spelling change is important for writing.
Regular Plural Formation
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| le livre | les livres | the book(s) |
| la table | les tables | the table(s) |
| un ami | des amis | friend(s) |
| une maison | des maisons | house(s) |
| le chat | les chats | the cat(s) |
Examples
Les enfants jouent.
The children play.
enfant → enfants (regular)
J'ai trois soeurs.
I have three sisters.
soeur → soeurs
Les voitures sont rouges.
The cars are red.
voiture → voitures
Mes amis arrivent demain.
My friends arrive tomorrow.
ami → amis
2Nouns Ending in -s, -x, -z
Nouns already ending in -s, -x, or -z do not change in the plural. Only the article indicates singular or plural. This is a useful rule because you do not need to worry about adding anything to these nouns.
Unchanged Plurals
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| le bus | les bus | the bus(es) |
| le choix | les choix | the choice(s) |
| le nez | les nez | the nose(s) |
| le prix | les prix | the price(s) |
| le fils | les fils | the son(s) |
Examples
Les bus sont en retard.
The buses are late.
bus → bus (no change)
J'ai deux choix.
I have two choices.
choix → choix (no change)
Les prix augmentent.
The prices are rising.
prix → prix (no change)
Mes fils sont grands.
My sons are tall.
fils → fils (no change)
3Special Plurals (-eau, -au, -eu → -x)
Nouns ending in -eau, -au, and most -eu form their plural by adding -x instead of -s. This is a common pattern for many everyday words. The -x is also silent in pronunciation, just like -s.
-x Plurals
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| le bateau | les bateaux | the boat(s) |
| le gâteau | les gâteaux | the cake(s) |
| le chapeau | les chapeaux | the hat(s) |
| le jeu | les jeux | the game(s) |
| le feu | les feux | the fire(s) |
Examples
Les oiseaux chantent.
The birds are singing.
oiseau → oiseaux (-x)
J'achète des gâteaux.
I am buying cakes.
gâteau → gâteaux
Les cheveux sont noirs.
The hair is black.
cheveu → cheveux
Il y a deux beaux châteaux.
There are two beautiful castles.
château → châteaux
4Irregular Plurals (-al → -aux, -ail → -aux)
Many nouns ending in -al change to -aux in the plural. Some nouns ending in -ail also change to -aux. There are exceptions that take regular -s, so these must be learned individually.
-al / -ail Plurals
| Singular | Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| le journal | les journaux | the newspaper(s) |
| l'animal | les animaux | the animal(s) |
| le cheval | les chevaux | the horse(s) |
| le travail | les travaux | the work(s) |
| l'oeil | les yeux | the eye(s) |
Examples
Les animaux sont au zoo.
The animals are at the zoo.
animal → animaux
J'aime les chevaux.
I like horses.
cheval → chevaux
Elle a les yeux bleus.
She has blue eyes.
oeil → yeux (irregular)
Les travaux commencent lundi.
The work starts Monday.
travail → travaux
Practice Exercises
3 exercises
What is the plural of 'le livre' (the book)?
What is the plural of 'l'oiseau' (the bird)?
What is the plural of 'le prix' (the price)?
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