The written rules
-s, -x, -aux and no change
| Ending | Plural | Examples | Heard? |
|---|---|---|---|
| most nouns | + s | un livre → des livres | no |
| -eau, -eu | + x | un gâteau → des gâteaux · un jeu → des jeux | no |
| -au | + x | un tuyau → des tuyaux | no |
| -al | → -aux | un journal → des journaux · un animal → des animaux | yes: “-al” becomes “-oh” |
| -ail (some) | → -aux | un travail → des travaux | yes |
| -s, -x, -z | no change | un bras → des bras · une voix → des voix · un nez → des nez | no |
The exceptions worth knowing
Les yeux, les bijoux, les festivals
When the plural -s is heard
Les amis: lay-za-MEE
les + vowellay-za-MEE · “the friends”Why: The silent -s links as a “z” sound.
lestheamisfriends
des + vowelday-zan-FAN · “children”Why: Same with des, mes, ces, nos…
dessomeenfantschildren
adjective + nounduh gran-ZARBR · “big trees”Why: The -s of an adjective before a noun links too. des becomes de before a plural adjective.
de grandsbigarbrestrees
no liaison with h aspirélay ay-ROH · “the heroes”Why: Words with an “aspirated h” block liaison: no “z” sound.
lesthehérosheroes
Plurals of compound nouns
Des grands-pères, des porte-clés
In a hyphenated noun, only the parts that are nouns or adjectives take the plural. Verbs and prepositions stay as they are.
Everything agrees
Les petites filles sont contentes
Articles, adjectives and past participles all go plural with the noun. In writing you see every -s; in speech, often only the article changes.
Adjectivelay puh-TEET FEE · “the little girls”Why: Three silent -s, one spoken article.
lesthepetiteslittlefillesgirls
After êtreel son kon-TANT · “They’re happy.”Why: contente + s: you hear the t but not the s.
Ellestheysontarecontentes.happy
Liaison reveals itduh gran-ZARBR · “big trees”Why: Before a vowel the adjective’s -s is heard as z.
desomegrandsbigarbrestrees
Mixed groupmay za-MEE son par-TEE · “My friends have left.”Why: Mixed or male group: masculine plural.
Mesmyamisfriendssontarepartis.left
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