le nombre: singulier et pluriel

Image:  Québec, QC, Canada

In French, a noun is always either singular or plural. It is usually introduced by a determiner (like le, un, ce…), which reflects the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular, plural)  of the noun.

regular plural formation

As in English, the plural is formed by adding an -s to the singular form of the noun. Note, however, that the -s is not pronounced. In spoken language, the determiner is often the only indication that a noun is singular or plural.

nouns ending in -s, -x, -z in the singular

Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z do not change in the plural. For example:

nouns ending in -al, -ail, -au, -eu, -eau, -ou in the singular

Nouns ending in -al, -ail, or -au in the singular end in -aux in the plural. For example:

There are a few exceptions: un bal (ball, dance), des bals; un carnaval (carnival), des carnavals; un festival (festival), des festivals; un récital (recital), des récitals.

Nouns ending in -eu or -eau in the singular add -x in the plural. For example: