Learn French: Ces ouvre-boîtes et ces presse-agrumes sont très pratiques. - These can openers and these citrus juicers are very practical.

Both are made of a verb (ouvre, presse) and a noun (boîtes, agrumes). In traditional French spelling, the verb part never changes. The noun part takes an -s even in the singular if the tool acts on multiple things (a can opener opens multiple cans). This means their singular and plural forms are identical: un ouvre-boîtes and des ouvre-boîtes. Under the newer 1990 spelling reform, this was simplified so they take an -s only in the plural, but you will still encounter both styles widely.

Is there a spoken liaison between Ces and ouvre-boîtes?

Yes. Because ouvre-boîtes starts with a vowel sound, you must make a mandatory liaison. The -s at the end of Ces is pronounced as a Z sound, connecting smoothly to the next word.

What does the word agrumes mean in presse-agrumes?

Un agrume is the general French term for a citrus fruit. While in English we might specify a lemon squeezer or orange juicer, French uses this catch-all categorical term for the kitchen gadget designed to juice any citrus.

Why does pratiques have an -s at the end?