Plurals
Adding -s or -x, and hearing the plural.
Most nouns add -s in the plural. The -s is silent, so the plural is usually heard only in the article (le livre, les livres) and in liaison before a vowel (les amis).
Regular and irregular plurals
| Singular ends in | Plural | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most endings | adds -s | un livre, des livres |
| -s, -x, -z | no change | un bus, des bus; un prix, des prix; un nez, des nez |
| -eau, -eu | adds -x | un bateau, des bateaux; un jeu, des jeux |
| -al | -aux | un journal, des journaux; un animal, des animaux |
| -ail | mostly -ails | un détail, des détails; but un travail, des travaux |
| -ou | mostly -ous | un trou, des trous |
Seven nouns in -ou take -x: bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou. A few -al nouns add -s: des festivals, des carnavals.
Some plurals are irregular: un œil, des yeux "eyes"; monsieur, messieurs; madame, mesdames. In un œuf, des œufs and un os, des os, the final consonant is said in the singular but not in the plural.
Family names don't take an -s: les Martin, the Martins.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and adjectives cards.
How do most nouns make their plural?
They add -s, which is silent.
What's the plural of journal?
journaux.
What's the plural of bateau?
bateaux.
What's the plural of œil, "eye"?
yeux.
What's the plural of prix?
prix: no change.
What's the plural of genou?
genoux.
What's the plural of travail?
travaux.
How do you hear that les amis is plural?
From les, and the z of the liaison.