French Grammar
Plural Formation Rules: Irregular Nouns
Irregular plural patterns for nouns ending in -au, -eau, -eu, and -al.
Start Interactive LessonLesson Summary
Irregular plural patterns for nouns ending in -au, -eau, -eu, and -al.
Grammar
Beyond the Standard -s
The standard plural adds a silent -s (see standard plural rules). Nouns ending in -au, -eau, -eu, and most ending in -al follow distinct irregular patterns.
Irregular Plural Patterns
| Singular Ending | Plural Ending | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -eau, -au | -eaux, -aux | le bureau → les bureaux, le château → les châteaux |
| -eu (most) | -eux | le jeu → les jeux, le cheveu → les cheveux |
| -al (most) | -aux | le journal → les journaux, le cheval → les chevaux |
Notable Exceptions
A small number of -al nouns take the regular -s: le bal → les bals, le festival → les festivals. Some -eu nouns also take -s: le pneu → les pneus. These exceptions should be noted as they are encountered.
Article and Pronunciation
The plural articles les and des remain unchanged. Unlike the silent -s, the endings -eaux, -eux, and -aux are pronounced. For example, un cheval [ʃəval] → des chevaux [ʃəvo]: the difference is audible.
Examples
- J'ai un journal et deux journaux.Singular journal vs. plural journaux (-al → -aux).
- Les bureaux sont fermés le dimanche.Plural bureaux from bureau (-eau → -eaux).
Related searches
These are the main phrases this lesson covers: