The French plural is a grammatical form used to indicate that there is more than one of a noun. It also affects the articles and adjectives that accompany the noun. Forming plurals in French is generally straightforward, but there are some important rules and exceptions to know.
General Rules
- Most nouns add -s to form the plural.
- Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z do not change in the plural.
- Nouns ending in -eau, -eu, or -au add -x.
- Some nouns ending in -al change to -aux.
- Nouns ending in -ail often add -s, but some change to -aux.
Plural Endings
| Singular Ending | Plural Ending | Example Singular | Example Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| (most nouns) | -s | chat | chats |
| -s, -x, -z | (no change) | nez | nez |
| -eau, -eu, -au | -x | bateau | bateaux |
| -al | -aux | animal | animaux |
| -ail | -s / -aux | travail (travaux*) | travaux* / travaux |
Note: Some -ail nouns change to -aux (e.g., travail → travaux).
Articles and Agreement
- Use les for plural nouns (both masculine and feminine).
- Adjectives add -s in the plural (e.g., petit → petits).
- If masculine plural ends in -x, the adjective also ends in -x.
Examples
| Singular Example | Plural Example | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| le chat noir | les chats noirs | the black cat | the black cats |
| la maison bleue | les maisons bleues | the blue house | the blue houses |
| le bateau blanc | les bateaux blancs | the white boat | the white boats |
| l’animal sauvage | les animaux sauvages | the wild animal | the wild animals |
| le travailleur fatigué | les travailleurs fatigués | the tired worker | the tired workers |
In the sentence 'les maisons bleues,' why does 'bleues' end with -es?
Because 'maison' is feminine plural, so the adjective takes -es.
Feminine plural nouns require adjectives to end in -es for agreement.
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns have irregular plural forms:
| Singular | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| un œil | des yeux | an eye / eyes |
| un bijou | des bijoux | a jewel / jewels |
| un chou | des choux | a cabbage / cabbages |
| un genou | des genoux | a knee / knees |
| un hibou | des hiboux | an owl / owls |
Which of the following nouns follow the irregular plural pattern by adding -x?
- bijou
- chou
- genou
- hibou
'Bijou,' 'chou,' 'genou,' and 'hibou' form plurals by adding -x, deviating from the standard -s rule.
Summary
Most French plurals are formed by adding -s, but many rules and exceptions exist.
Plural articles are always les.
Adjectives must agree in number (usually by adding -s).
Take care with nouns ending in -eau, -eu, -au, -al, and -ail, as well as irregular nouns.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Singular Example: le chat noir
- Plural Example: les chats noirs
- English Singular: the black cat
- English Plural: the black cats
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
