Nouns - plurals
1 Plural of nouns
As in English, the plural of nouns is generally formed by adding an -s to the end of the word. The following exceptions apply:
1.1 Nouns ending -s, -x, or -z
Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z remain the same:
les fils
the sons
les voix
the voices
les gaz
the gases
1.2 Nouns ending -au, -eu
Nouns ending in -au and -eu take -x in the plural:
les châteaux
the castles
les cheveux
the hair
But note the exception:
les pneus
the tyres
1.3 Nouns ending -ou, -x
Certain nouns ending in -ou take -x in the plural:
les bijoux
the jewels
les cailloux
the pebbles
But note the exception:
les clous
the nails
1.4 Nouns ending -ail, -al
Certain words ending in -ail and -al end in -aux in the plural:
un travail
a work
→
des travaux
the works
un animal
an animal
→
des animaux
the animals
un journal
a newspaper
→
des journaux
the newspapers
but
un carnaval
a carnaval
→
des carnivals
the carnivals
un festival
a festival
→
des festivals
the festivals
1.5 Fundamental changes
Certain words change fundamentally in the plural:
un oeil
an eye
→
les yeux
the eyes
Monsieur
Sir
→
Messieurs
Gentlemen
Madame
Madam
→
Mesdames
Ladies
1.6 Proper nouns and acronyms
In French proper nouns and acronyms take no -s in the plural, unlike in English:
On est allés voir les Dupont hier soir
We went to see the Duponts yesterday evening
Ils possèdent deux Peugeot
They own two Peugeots
En ce qui concerne les ordinateurs, je préfère les Apple aux PC
As far as computers are concerned, I prefer Apples to PCs
Elle dépense tout son argent en CD
She spends all her money on CDs
1.7 Singular v plural, uncountable v countable
Some words are singular in one language and plural in the other:
| English singular | French plural |
|---|---|
| to make progress / to carry out research | faire des progrès / des recherches |
| information / evidence | des renseignements / preuves |
| knowledge | des connaissances |
| to feel remorse | éprouver des remords |
| spinach / broccoli | des épinards / brocolis |
| pasta / spaghetti | des pâtes / spaghettis |
| there’s a good chance that ... | il y a de fortes chances que ... |
| to cause damage | causer des dégats |
| English plural | French singular |
|---|---|
| pyjamas | un pyjama |
| stairs | un escalier |
| pants / tights | un slip / un collant |
| trousers / shorts | un pantalon / un short |
| economics / physics | l’économie / la physique |