22 - How to Form the Plural of Any French Noun

 
 

Not too sure how to form the plural of French nouns? Should you add an 's'? an 'x? None? 😱 Listen to this episode to find out! In this lesson, you'll learn the general rule to form the plural in French and the main exceptions!

After the lesson, head over to the French Made Easy Exercise Library to practice!

If you’d prefer to listen on the go, listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Links & Cheat Sheet

Transcript

Intro: Welcome to the French Made Easy podcast, where I give you all the basics you need to speak French clearly and confidently. I'm your host, Mathilde, and I'm a French teacher, mumpreneur, and bread and cheese lover. Join me as I dive into all things French for beginners, and deliver to you bite-sized and easy-to-follow lessons every Tuesday. Let's get started, "on commence"!

Bonjour à tous! Hi everyone! Welcome back to the French Made Easy podcast! This is episode number 22, numéro vingt-deux. In this episode, you'll learn how to form the plural of any French noun. We'll first talk about the general rule, then we'll see the particular cases and to finish we'll see a few oddballs that do not follow the rule or the exceptions. 

So, for this episode, I strongly recommend you download your lesson cheat sheet. It's really important to see how the words are written. It's free. After the lesson, download your exercises, so you can take action and practice what you've learned! It's also free.

Super. Vous êtes prêts? Are you ready? C'est parti. 😊

So first, let's talk about the rule. 

As a general rule, to form the plural of French nouns, you simply need to add an 's'. Up to here, easy, right? 

"une banane" (a banana, singular) -> "des bananes" (bananas, plural) 🍌

The only thing that changed here, except for the article (more on the article here and here), is the 's'. I've added an 's' at the end of the word "banane."

"une chaise" (a chair) -> "des chaises" (chairs) 🪑

A quick pronunciation note here, adding an 's' to the noun, usually doesn't change the pronunciation. I say "usually" because there are exceptions, but most of the time, it doesn't change the pronunciation.

"Des chaises." The 's' at the end of "chaises" is silent.

Good timing to tell you that if you're not quite sure why the 's' is silent, you should definitely take my course: French Pronunciation Kickstarter, (now French Pronunciation Made Easy) where I explain how to pronounce French words the right way. 

Alright. Now, you saw it coming; French grammar would not be fun without some particular cases, or some exceptions if you prefer. 

  • #1 For most nouns ending with -au, -eau or -eu: you need to add an 'x' at the end.

So you add an "x" instead of the "s."

"Un gâteau" (a cake) -> "des gâteaux. (cakes)" 🎂

So here, instead of adding an 's,' I add an 'x.'

That's also the case for a few nouns ending with -ou (but careful here, not for all!) 

"un chou" (a cabbage) -> "des choux." (cabbages) 🥬

Difference here? I've added an 'x' at the end of "chou." 

  • #2 For most nouns ending with -al, -ail: change the ending to 'aux.' 

Here you remove the -al or the -ail, and then you replace it with -aux.

"un cheval" (a horse) -> "des chevaux" (horses) 🐎

❌ Don't give me "des chevals!" 

✅ "Des chevaux"

Now, this exception has a few exceptions of its own.

For example "un festival" (a festival) -> "des festivals." (festivals) 

❌ Not "des festivaux." 

But to be honest, you wouldn't be the first to make this mistake; because even native French speakers sometimes get it wrong.

  • #3 For most nouns ending with -s, -x, -z: that one is super easy, you change nothing!

For example "un prix" (a price) -> "des prix" (prices) End with an 'x', stays with the 'x' No changes!

Another example: "un bras" (an arm) -> "des bras" (arms) No change at all! 💪

Great. So now that we all know the rule and the exceptions. Be aware that some nouns don't follow either the rule or the exceptions, and their plural form is entirely different. 

For example, a very common one is "un oeil" (an eye) -> "des yeux." (eyes) 👀

So, as usual, let me recap briefly everything we've learned. 

  • The general rule to form the plural of French nouns is simply adding a silent 's' at the end. "Une banane -> des bananes." 

  • For most nouns ending with -au, -eau or -eu: you add a silent 'x.' "un gâteau" -> "des gâteaux"

  • For most nouns ending with -al or -ail: change the ending to 'aux.' "Un cheval" -> "des chevaux"

  • For most nouns ending with -s, -x or -z: you change nothing! "un bras" -> "des bras."

  • And then remember that some French words are irregular, and you just have to learn them! "un oeil" -> "des yeux."

Alright, guys. On a fini! We're done! That's it for this episode! If you enjoyed this lesson, leave me a comment over at mathildekien.com, I'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to take action and download your lesson's exercises to practice what you've learned. Thanks so much for listening. 

Merci beaucoup et à bientôt. 💖

 
 
 
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