This French 1 lesson explains French plural nouns step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French plural nouns and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: Most French nouns form the plural by adding -s, and that -s is silent, so un livre becomes des livres. Nouns in -eau and -eu take -x, nouns in -al become -aux, and nouns ending in -s, -x or -z stay the same. Il y a means both “there is” and “there are”.
Level: French 1 (high school, ACTFL Novice) · Standards: ACTFL Novice Mid, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational
French plural nouns: the lesson
How do you make a French noun plural?
Rule: add -s
Most French nouns add -s in the plural. The little word before the noun changes as well: un and une become des; le, la and l’ become les. The final -s is silent, so the ear hears a plural in the article, not in the noun.
| Singular ending | Plural | Example |
|---|---|---|
| most endings | add -s | une chaise → des chaises |
| -s, -x, -z | no change | un cours → des cours; un nez → des nez |
| -eau, -eu | add -x | un bureau → des bureaux; un jeu → des jeux |
| -al | -aux | un animal → des animaux |
Which plurals are irregular?
A few words ignore the pattern. Un bal and un festival simply add -s: des bals, des festivals. Un œil becomes des yeux, and un cheval becomes des chevaux. Learn these as vocabulary.
How do you say “there is” and “there are”?
Il y a
Il y a means both “there is” and “there are”. It never changes. For the negative, use il n’y a pas de (or d’ before a vowel).
Examples
- Il y a un tableau. — There is a board.
- Il y a deux fenêtres. — There are two windows.
- Il n’y a pas de gomme. — There is no eraser.
- Il n’y a pas d’ordinateurs. — There are no computers.
Useful objects: un cahier (notebook), une trousse (pencil case), un sac à dos (backpack), une étagère (shelf), un rideau (curtain), une affiche (poster). Ask Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans ta chambre ? — What is in your room?
Common mistakes
English can leave out “some”: “I have books.” French cannot: J’ai des livres. Also, after a negative, des turns into de: say Il n’y a pas de livres, never Il n’y a pas des livres. And do not write il y ont: il y a stays the same for one or ten objects.
Zoé’s tip
Listen to the small word, not the noun. Le livre and les livres sound different only in the article. Before a vowel, les and des link to the noun with a z sound: les élèves, des amis.
Culture note
In France the school year starts in early September, a moment called la rentrée. Shops fill with des cahiers, des trousses and des stylos, and many families receive a back-to-school allowance.
Key points to remember
- Add -s to most nouns; the -s is not pronounced.
- -eau and -eu add -x; -al becomes -aux.
- Nouns ending in -s, -x, -z do not change.
- Il y a never changes; the negative is il n’y a pas de.
- Des becomes de or d’ after a negative.
Counting Things in Plural and Il Y A: frequently asked questions
Is the plural -s pronounced in French?
No. In des chaises the final -s is silent. Listen to the article: une chair versus des chairs.
What is the plural of un cheval?
It is des chevaux. Most nouns ending in -al follow this pattern, but bal and festival add a simple -s.
Does il y a change for plural nouns?
No. Il y a un livre and il y a trois livres use the same verb form. Only the noun and the number change.
When do I use de instead of des?
Use de (or d’ before a vowel) after pas in a negative sentence: Il n’y a pas de livres.
What is the plural of un œil?
It is des yeux, an irregular plural. Learn it as a separate word.