In French, a noun is always either singular or plural. It is usually introduced by a determiner, which reflects the number of the noun.
5 U( o( e6 b3 ?3 l ★regular plural formation
" E Y" ?; K/ a3 g/ J6 |( W As in English, the plural is formed by adding an -s to the singular form of the noun. Note, however, that the -s is not pronounced. In spoken language, the determiner is often the only indication that a noun is singular or plural.
0 W0 [8 P% h9 s* p Tex est un tatou. Tex et Tammy sont des tatous. Tex is an armadillo. Tex and Tammy are armadillos. K6 s3 n6 w! N3 G1 `
★nouns ending in -s, -x, -z in the singular
8 K2 k: d# p% v7 e' S Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z do not change in the plural. For example:
+ j2 P! ~" Y. Y& Q Tex a un long nez. Les tatous ont toujours de longs nez. Tex has a long nose. Armadillos always have long noses.
# N/ w; p9 n& o8 T Joe-Bob est un écureuil. Les écureuils adorent les noix. Joe-Bob mange au moins une noix par jour. Joe-Bob is a squirrel. Squirrels adore nuts. Joe-Bob eats at least one nut every day.
2 S; _' l8 s$ B5 \: ]* y4 e/ J; S Bette est une chatte. Les chats mangent des souris. Est-ce que Bette a jamais mangé une souris? Bette is a cat. Cats eat mice. Has Bette ever eaten a mouse?
# ?' N' N' k& |( @3 P8 [ ★nouns ending in -al, -ail, -au, -eu, -eau, -ou in the singular
6 G1 Y. s; D: {0 Q+ g Nouns ending in -al, -ail, or -au in the singular end in -aux in the plural. For example:
: B) `+ w" } M% Z/ W0 z, y Edouard est un animal distingué。 Corey et Fiona ne sont pas des animaux, ce sont des insectes peu sociables! Edouard is a distinguished animal. Corey et Fiona are not animals. They are unsociable insects!
: j2 s+ W! P, `' G/ u" y% E There are a few exceptions: un bal (ball, dance), des bals; un carnaval (carnival), des carnivals; un festival (festival), des festivals; un récital (recital), des récitals.
) Y; `+ N _0 o" b ★Nouns ending in -eu or -eau in the singular add -x in the plural. For example:
. J- V; T0 B4 I Edouard n‘a pas un seul cheveu. Bien s?r, c’est un escargot! Mais Tammy a les cheveux longs. C‘est une tatou extraordinaire! Edouard does not have one single hair. Of course, he’s a snail. But Tammy has long hair. She‘s an extraordinary armadillo!: z, H& K) r, ^& D8 `# V [
★Nouns ending in -ou end in -oux in the plural:( @7 [* p6 i1 w b$ r! z
un bijou (jewel), des bijoux, \4 [' {5 b5 s
un caillou (stone, pebble), des cailloux
4 o% Q, K, @0 L0 ?( U un chou (cabbage), des choux
9 {/ O- [, m* Q8 r, O4 p x3 M un genou (knee), des genoux
7 X( t1 c4 J) N# C; d8 { un hibou (owl), des hiboux. s$ q& u' l; W* p! N( f% r
un pou (louse), des poux% s7 k( [& b3 d3 V
Exceptions include: un clou (nail), des clous; un sou (money), des sous; un trou (hole), des trous.
7 N4 r( @! J* N ★irregular plurals9 Q- N5 H( r8 y/ H
Some nouns have an alternate form in the plural:
7 ~. H& K7 c$ a un oeil (eye), des yeux( @7 D% `* c; b3 u0 L. x# ~ A* W' W
Madame (Madam), Mesdames; Z/ t) k7 J2 o* }2 M0 c7 e
Monsieur (Sir), Messieurs
" i4 P: \ q. U, u' ~ Mademoiselle (Miss), Mesdemoiselles. ]$ U! N' r. A- e6 n
Note that some nouns follow the regular rule of plural formation but are pronounced differently in the plural. For example, the -f is pronounced in the singular, but not in the plural. Listen:
, c: B3 i X' S" }8 O% D0 ~& }+ ~ un oeuf (egg), des oeufs6 X# ^" e& j$ F8 u
un boeuf (steer), des boeufs
. i. L, L$ t; s* ?' k# h. \% F un os (bone), des os |