French plural nouns

Learn French Grammar : How to Make French Nouns Plural

Create plural nouns in French by adding an s or x, or by substituting –aux for –al. Making French nouns plural, however, takes a different tack when it comes to family names and nouns that end in –s,–x, or –z. In French grammar, here's how you turn a singular noun into a plural noun:

• For most nouns, you add -s to the end. For example: maison (house) becomes maisons ;rose (flower) becomes roses.
• Nouns that end in -au take -x in the plural. For example: châpeau (hat) becomes châpeaux , and manteau (overcoat) becomes manteaux.
• Most nouns that end in -ou take -s in the plural, but some take -x. For example:  bijou (jewel) becomes bijoux (jewels), and rou (red) becomes roux.
• Nouns that end in -al drop that ending and use -aux in the plural. For example: journal (newspaper) becomes journaux (newspapers); cheval (horse) becomes chevaux.
• Nouns that end in -s, -x, or -z when they're singular don't change in the plural; you simply change the accompanying article. For example: un Anglais (an Englishman) remains des Anglais, and un vieux (old) remains des vieux.
• Family names aren't pluralized in French. For example, the Duponts lose the -s in French but keep the article: Les Dupont.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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  Learn French Grammar : How to Make French Nouns Plural

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