PrepMyFrench

Mastering Plural Nouns in French

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.

The Golden Rule

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.

Le chat $\rightarrow$ Les chats
La voiture $\rightarrow$ Les voitures

The Irregular Architects

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.

Ending in -al

Journal $\rightarrow$ Journaux

Ending in -eau

Bateau $\rightarrow$ Bateaux

Ending in -eu

Cheveu $\rightarrow$ Cheveux

The Invariables

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.

Le bus $\rightarrow$ Les bus
Le prix $\rightarrow$ Les prix
Le nez $\rightarrow$ Les nez