In French, a noun is always either singular or plural. It is usually introduced by a determiner, which reflects the number of the noun.
6 Q8 h0 o' @* g3 }9 A) q4 o1 i0 M ★regular plural formation
0 d, m2 x- s* C+ u3 E% i- b& Z) v 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.5 G- x+ M3 S5 ` i
Tex est un tatou. Tex et Tammy sont des tatous. Tex is an armadillo. Tex and Tammy are armadillos.
6 @" Z7 G8 _0 K* X- h ★nouns ending in -s, -x, -z in the singular' f$ S8 f, L" p L
Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z do not change in the plural. For example:
/ v' L+ p$ Q: }- U$ x Tex a un long nez. Les tatous ont toujours de longs nez. Tex has a long nose. Armadillos always have long noses.
. {6 y1 S% c) K8 O9 R9 e7 u; F 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.
% }6 J) l3 u8 |& z* f- X! T$ L 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?& A' R1 e+ ]+ t# r; I, \
★nouns ending in -al, -ail, -au, -eu, -eau, -ou in the singular5 D3 {/ w3 p! P$ b+ m: N" [
Nouns ending in -al, -ail, or -au in the singular end in -aux in the plural. For example:
" ]: i- D3 n8 }; Z* L" y3 _ 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!+ K* h. J9 P* D9 P, |% a
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.
5 X1 U5 l: T, L ★Nouns ending in -eu or -eau in the singular add -x in the plural. For example:
# S! s% |/ @& ^' p, J+ y( w& o 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!
* | P4 T9 S4 E0 X. x ★Nouns ending in -ou end in -oux in the plural:
# Q6 q* K* l y- }0 O5 A un bijou (jewel), des bijoux5 M( o' t% X- s5 } h5 B
un caillou (stone, pebble), des cailloux
- t( w: R3 ^. J un chou (cabbage), des choux8 M! z9 H+ S* C) X8 \3 f# m
un genou (knee), des genoux; _" U' M# Y: t' D: L& q K
un hibou (owl), des hiboux& M$ C5 }" M# Q0 D. V2 A. s
un pou (louse), des poux$ N0 s, _+ a9 d" |; S/ y
Exceptions include: un clou (nail), des clous; un sou (money), des sous; un trou (hole), des trous.
! A, O9 O# J" N2 T: D7 {4 E* q ★irregular plurals
" t O! P% c# `: _. U; n0 R9 X- ` Some nouns have an alternate form in the plural:. H; u: B5 a* \3 U& q0 p0 h) N
un oeil (eye), des yeux
6 d% Y' z8 n* p. E$ G Madame (Madam), Mesdames: m4 q9 ~1 I3 q1 u
Monsieur (Sir), Messieurs( ?5 C" I2 J/ I+ n
Mademoiselle (Miss), Mesdemoiselles
8 ]% p0 I5 r5 y+ D. u 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:6 a, \% a* @5 a
un oeuf (egg), des oeufs* F. E3 x8 C: i$ G
un boeuf (steer), des boeufs# V7 F7 w7 p' d9 F& P
un os (bone), des os |