Number shows whether a noun refers to one person or thing or to more than one. English often forms the plural by adding -s, as in book and books.
French also distinguishes between singular and plural nouns. Many nouns form the plural by adding -s, but some endings follow other patterns or use an irregular form.
Singular and plural nouns
A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. A plural noun refers to more than one.
The article often makes the difference visible:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un livre | des livres | a book / books |
| une maison | des maisons | a house / houses |
| le garçon | les garçons | the boy / the boys |
| la fille | les filles | the girl / the girls |
The noun and the words around it work together to show number.
In speech, the singular and plural noun forms often sound the same. Articles and other words can therefore provide an important clue.
Regular plural endings
Most French nouns form the plural by adding -s to the singular form:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un livre | des livres | a book / books |
| une table | des tables | a table / tables |
| un ami | des amis | a friend / friends |
| une voiture | des voitures | a car / cars |
Nouns already ending in -s, -x, or -z normally keep the same spelling in the plural:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un pays | des pays | a country / countries |
| un prix | des prix | a price / prices |
| un nez | des nez | a nose / noses |
The article changes even when the noun itself does not.
Irregular plural forms
Some noun endings use a different plural form.
Many nouns ending in -eau, -au, or -eu add -x:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un bateau | des bateaux | a boat / boats |
| un tuyau | des tuyaux | a pipe / pipes |
| un jeu | des jeux | a game / games |
Many nouns ending in -al change to -aux:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un animal | des animaux | an animal / animals |
| un journal | des journaux | a newspaper / newspapers |
| un cheval | des chevaux | a horse / horses |
Some nouns ending in -ail also form the plural in -aux:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un travail | des travaux | a job, work / jobs, works |
| un vitrail | des vitraux | a stained-glass window / stained-glass windows |
A few nouns have a completely irregular plural:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un œil | des yeux | an eye / eyes |
These forms need to be learned with the individual noun because not every noun with the same ending follows the same pattern.
Compound noun plurals
A compound noun is made from two or more words that work together as one noun.
In French, the plural of a compound noun depends on the words that make up the compound.
When both parts are nouns or an adjective and a noun, both can take a plural form:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un chou-fleur | des choux-fleurs | a cauliflower / cauliflowers |
| un grand-père | des grands-pères | a grandfather / grandfathers |
| un coffre-fort | des coffres-forts | a safe / safes |
When the first part is a verb, it normally stays unchanged:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un ouvre-boîte | des ouvre-boîtes | a can opener / can openers |
| un porte-clés | des porte-clés | a key ring / key rings |
Some compounds contain a fixed prepositional phrase, so only one part changes:
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| un arc-en-ciel | des arcs-en-ciel | a rainbow / rainbows |
Because compound nouns follow several patterns, it is useful to learn their plural form together with the singular.
Nouns used only in the singular or plural
Some French nouns are normally used in the singular when they refer to a substance, quality, or general idea:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le riz | rice |
| le courage | courage |
| la patience | patience |
| le bonheur | happiness |
These nouns can sometimes have plural uses in special contexts, but the singular is normal for their general meaning.
Other nouns are normally used only in the plural:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les vacances | vacation, holidays |
| les frais | expenses, costs |
| les alentours | surroundings |
| les funérailles | funeral, funeral rites |
These plural forms behave as plural nouns even when English uses a singular expression.
From learning to practice
When reading or listening to French, notice whether nouns refer to one person or thing or to more than one. Pay attention to the article as well as the ending of the noun, especially when the singular and plural sound alike.
Practice learning new nouns with both their singular and plural forms when the plural is irregular. Recognizing common endings such as -s, -x, and -aux will make it easier to identify and form plural nouns.