PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
Learn how to transform singular nouns into plurals. While most nouns follow a simple rule, French has several fascinating exceptions that every learner must master to speak fluently.
Most French nouns form the plural by adding -s: un livre → des livres. Nouns ending in -eau, -au, -eu add -x: un bateau → des bateaux. Nouns ending in -al change to -aux: un journal → des journaux (but un festival → des festivals). Nouns ending in -s, -x, -z remain unchanged. The only common irregular is un œil → des yeux.
In French, the general rule is simple: add an 's' to the end of the singular noun. Note that this 's' is almost always silent in spoken French! Practice this with PrepMyFrench exercises to build your muscle memory.
Some nouns don't follow the standard 's' rule. Depending on their ending, they transform in unique ways. Check out our comprehensive noun guide for more details.
Some nouns are already plural in form or end with letters that don't change when becoming plural. These are the 'shields' of French grammar—they stay exactly the same! You can test your knowledge of these tricky words using the PrepMyFrench interactive quiz.
Compound nouns (noms composés) follow special plural rules. Only nouns and adjectives inside the compound get pluralized — verbs, adverbs, and prepositions stay singular.
Un porte-monnaie → Des porte-monnaie (verb + noun — noun stays singular)
Un grand-père → Des grands-pères (adjective + noun — both pluralized)
Un chou-fleur → Des choux-fleurs (noun + noun — both pluralized)
-al → -aux (journal → journaux)
-eau → -eaux (bateau → bateaux)
-eu → -eux (cheveu → cheveux)
-s, -x, -z → unchanged (prix, nez)
-ou → -ous (clou → clous, except 7: bijoux, cailloux, choux, genoux, hiboux, joujoux, poux)
-ail → -ails (détail → détails, except: travail → travaux)
J'ai acheté trois livres et deux stylos à la librairie.
I bought three books and two pens at the bookstore.
Les journaux du matin sont sur la table.
The morning newspapers are on the table.
Elle a de magnifiques cheveux blonds.
She has magnificent blonde hair.
Les prix des hôtels augmentent en été.
Hotel prices go up in the summer.
Mes grands-parents habitent dans les Alpes.
My grandparents live in the Alps.
Tous les festivals de musique sont annulés.
All the music festivals are cancelled.
Les chevals sont dans le pré.
Les chevaux sont dans le pré.
Nouns ending in -al change to -aux. Cheval → Chevaux, Journal → Journaux. Exceptions taking -s: bals, carnavals, festivals, récitals, régals.
J'ai deux bijous préférés.
J'ai deux bijoux préférés.
Most -ou nouns take -s (clous, trous), but 7 common ones take -x: bijoux, cailloux, choux, genoux, hiboux, joujoux, poux. Remember: 'Venez, mes bijoux, sur mes cailloux, manger des choux!'
Les oeils sont la fenêtre de l'âme.
Les yeux sont la fenêtre de l'âme.
Œil has the most irregular plural in French: yeux. The only French noun that completely changes form. Always use yeux for the body part.
🐴 Chevaux with AUX Glasses
For the 7 -ou → -oux words: imagine a CHOU (cabbage) wearing a BIJOU (jewel) on its GENOU (knee) while a HIBOU (owl) plays with a JOUJOU (toy) on a CAILLOU (stone) — with a POU (louse) watching! For -al → -aux: picture a CHEVAL wearing AUX-shaped glasses — 'Chevaux sees with AUX!' The story is weird enough to stick.
Plural errors are heavily penalized in TEF/TCF Expression Écrite. Examiners at B1+ test: (1) -al → -aux transformation, (2) compound noun plurals (des grands-pères, not des grand-pères), and (3) the silent written 's' — since you can't hear it, students frequently forget it. The festival/bal/carnaval exception is a favorite trick question.
A parent packing school bags with the kids:
J'ai préparé les sandwichs. Vous voulez des pommes ou des gâteaux ?
Des gâteaux ! Avec les chocolats d'hier ?
Je prends deux pommes. Et n'oublie pas mes feutres !
Ils sont déjà dans ton sac, avec tes cahiers et tes ciseaux.
Test yourself on French plural formation with 20 interactive questions on PrepMyFrench. Regular -s, irregular -x/-aux endings, and compound nouns with instant scoring.
Take PrepMyFrench's free CEFR placement test (A1-C1) to find your exact French level and get personalized grammar study recommendations.