Nouns – regular plurals
Add a silent -s
Most French nouns make their plural just like English: add -s. The big difference is that this s is silent.
Adding -s
- un livre → des livres
- une fleur → des fleurs
- l'ami → les amis
Because livre and livres sound identical, you hear the plural in the article: le livre (le) vs les livres (lay). That's why the difference between le and les matters so much when speaking. You can train your ear for it in Pronunciation › Train your ear.
Nouns that don't change
Nouns already ending in -s, -x or -z stay the same:
- un bus → des bus
- le prix → les prix
- le nez → les nez
- un fils → des fils
Irregular plurals (preview)
Some endings form their plural differently. You'll meet them properly at A1:
| singular | plural |
|---|---|
| -eau: un gâteau | -eaux: des gâteaux |
| -al: un animal | -aux: des animaux |
| -eu: un jeu | -eux: des jeux |
- un œil → des yeux (eye → eyes, completely irregular)
Family names don't take an s in French: les Martin = the Martins.
Practice
- un livre → deux _____
Show the answer
livres
- une fleur → des _____
Show the answer
fleurs
- un fils → deux _____
Show the answer
fils — Nouns ending in -s don't change.
- une croix → des _____
Show the answer
croix — Nouns ending in -x don't change.
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.