Irregular plurals (-x)

Irregular plurals: Endings in -eau and -eu

Most French nouns and adjectives become plural simply by adding an -s. However, words that end in -eau and -eu take an -x instead!

  • Words ending in -eau add an -x (-eaux). This includes nouns like oiseau (bird) and chapeau (hat), and adjectives like beau (beautiful) and nouveau (new).
I like nature and beautiful birds.
J'aime la nature et les beaux oiseaux.
We are exploring the new offices.
Nous explorons les nouveaux bureaux.
Where are the new coats and the beautiful hats?
Où sont les nouveaux manteaux et les beaux chapeaux ?
  • Words ending in -eu also add an -x (-eux), like jeu (game) and lieu (place).
The players like the new games.
Les joueurs aiment les nouveaux jeux.

As a reminder, when a plural adjective (like nouveaux or beaux) comes before a plural noun, the plural article des changes to de.

They explored new places.
Ils ont exploré de nouveaux lieux.
There are beautiful birds, wolves and plants in these places.
Il y a de beaux oiseaux, des loups et des plantes dans ces lieux.

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