3 - Plurality

Basic Plurality

The most common way to form the plural of a noun is by adding "-s" to the singular form.

However, you also have irregular plural endings:

Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z: These nouns usually remain unchanged in the plural.
- un cours (a course) → des cours (courses)
- une voix (a voice) → des voix (voices)
- un nez (a nose) → des nez (noses)
Nouns ending in -eau or -au or -eu: These nouns usually add an "-x" to form the plural.
- un bateau (a boat) → des bateaux (boats)
- un chapeau (a hat) → des chapeaux (hats)
- un noyau (a pit) → des noyaux (pits)
Nouns ending in -eu: These nouns usually add an "-x" to form the plural.
- un jeu (a game) → des jeux (games)
- un cheveu (a hair) → des cheveux (hairs)
- Exception: un pneu (a tire) → des pneus (tires)
Nouns ending in -al: Most nouns ending in "-al" change the ending to "-aux" in the plural.
- un journal (a newspaper) → des journaux (newspapers)
- un cheval (a horse) → des chevalaux (horses)
- Exceptions: un bal (a ball) → des bals (balls), un carnaval (a carnival) → des carnavals (carnivals), un festival (a festival) → des festivals (festivals)
Nouns ending in -ail: Most nouns ending in "-ail" add an "-s" in the plural, but some change to "-aux."
- un détail (a detail) → des détails (details)
- un travail (a work) → des travaux (works)

Some nouns have completely irregular plural forms:

un œil (an eye) → des yeux (eyes)
un ciel (a sky) → des cieux (skies) (but un ciel de lit (a canopy bed) → des ciels de lit)
Monsieur (Mister) -> Messieurs (Misters)
Madame (Madam) -> Mesdames (Madams)
Mademoiselle (Miss) -> Mesdemoiselles (Misses)

There are some nouns in french that are always plural.