Nouns - plurals

1 Plural of nouns

As in English, the plural of nouns is generally formed by adding an -s to the end of the word. The following exceptions apply:

1.1 Nouns ending -s, -x, or -z

Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z remain the same:

1.2 Nouns ending -au, -eu

Nouns ending in -au and -eu take -x in the plural:

But note the exception:

1.3 Nouns ending -ou, -x

Certain nouns ending in -ou take -x in the plural:

But note the exception:

1.4 Nouns ending -ail, -al

Certain words ending in -ail and -al end in -aux in the plural:

but

1.5 Fundamental changes

Certain words change fundamentally in the plural:

1.6 Proper nouns and acronyms

In French proper nouns and acronyms take no -s in the plural, unlike in English:

On est allés voir les Dupont hier soir

We went to see the Duponts yesterday evening

Ils possèdent deux Peugeot

They own two Peugeots

En ce qui concerne les ordinateurs, je préfère les Apple aux PC

As far as computers are concerned, I prefer Apples to PCs

Elle dépense tout son argent en CD

She spends all her money on CDs

1.7 Singular v plural, uncountable v countable

Some words are singular in one language and plural in the other: