The Plural Definite Article: les
In English, the word "the" is used for both singular and plural nouns. In French, you must use a plural article for plural nouns.
The plural form of both le (masculine) and la (feminine) is les.
| The cats are fast. | Les chats sont rapides. |
| The dogs are slow. | Les chiens sont lents. |
Linking Sounds: The Liaison
Normally, the final -s in les is completely silent. However, spoken French prefers its sounds to flow smoothly.
When les comes right before a word that starts with a vowel (or a silent h), the final -s "wakes up" and is pronounced as a "z" sound. This sound links directly into the beginning of the next word. This smooth connection is called a liaison.
Listen closely to the audio in the following examples to hear the "z" sound connecting the article to the noun:
| The children are in the park. | Les enfants sont dans le parc. |
| The computers are under the table. | Les ordinateurs sont sous la table. |
| The schools are very big. | Les écoles sont très grandes. |
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