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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form the plural of French nouns like "le cou" to "les cous" and "la peau" to "les peaux." Master special endings such as -al to -aux in "le mal" to "les maux," and recognize nouns unchanged in plural like "le dos" to "les dos."
Règles (Rules)Singulier (Singular)Pluriel (Plural)
General + 's'Le cou  (The neck) Les cous  (The necks)
-eau/ -eu + "x" La peau  (The skin)Les peaux  (The skins)
 -al/ -ail -->  + "aux"   (-al/ -ail --> + "aux")Le mal  (The pain) Les maux  (The pains)
Ne change pas au pluriel (Does not change in the plural)Le dos (The back)Les dos (The backs)

Exceptions!

  1. "Yeux" is the irregular plural of "œil".
  2. Nouns that end with "s, x, z" in the singular do not change in the plural.

Exercise 1: Le pluriel des noms

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Les yeux, Les joues, Les jambes, Les bouches, Les oreilles, Les doigts, Les lèvres, Les pieds

1. L'oreille:
...
(The ears)
2. La lèvre:
...
(The lips)
3. La joue:
...
(The cheeks)
4. Le doigt:
...
(The fingers)
5. L'œil:
...
(The eyes)
6. La jambe:
...
(The legs)
7. Le pied:
...
(The feet)
8. La bouche:
...
(The mouths)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Les ______ sont importantes pour entendre.

(The ______ are important for hearing.)

2. Il a mal aux ______ aujourd'hui.

(He has pain in his ______ today.)

3. Nous touchons les ______ douces.

(We touch the ______ soft.)

4. Les ______ des visages sont visibles.

(The ______ of the faces are visible.)

5. Je plie les ______ pour compter.

(I bend the ______ to count.)

6. Les ______ sont sur la tête.

(The ______ is on the head.)

Understanding the Plural Forms of French Nouns

This lesson focuses on forming and recognizing plurals of French nouns. Mastering these rules is fundamental for accurate communication and comprehension in French.

Basic Plural Formation Rules

  • General rule: Add an -s to the singular noun. For example, le cou (the neck) becomes les cous (the necks).
  • Nouns ending with -eau or -eu: These take an -x in the plural. For example, la peau (the skin) becomes les peaux (the skins).
  • Nouns ending with -al or -ail: Often change to -aux in plural. For example, le mal (the pain) becomes les maux (the pains).
  • Nouns that do not change in plural: Some nouns remain identical whether singular or plural if they end with -s, -x, or -z. For instance, le dos (the back) remains les dos for plural.

Important Irregularity

The word œil (eye) forms its irregular plural as yeux (eyes).

Key Notes on Usage

Remember that not all French plurals simply add an -s. Pay attention to endings and exceptions for accurate understanding and expression.

Practical Vocabulary Highlights

  • oreille / oreilles — ear / ears
  • jambe / jambes — leg / legs
  • sourcil / sourcils — eyebrow / eyebrows
  • doigt / doigts — finger / fingers
  • cheveu / cheveux — hair strand / hairs

Differences Between English and French Plural Formation

Unlike English, which mostly adds -s or -es, French has more varied plural rules including changing endings to -x or -aux and some unchanged forms. For example, English eye becomes eyes simply by adding -s, but French œil changes to yeux in plural. This reflects the importance of learning noun endings and exceptions in French.

Useful phrases to remember:

  • Un cou, deux cous — One neck, two necks
  • La peau douce, les peaux douces — The soft skin, the soft skins
  • Le mal, les maux — The pain, the pains
  • Le dos, les dos — The back, the backs (unchanged)

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 11:10