A1 Nouns & Articles 18 min read Easy

French Plural: Words Ending in -s, -x, -z (No Change)

If a French noun ends in -s, -x, or -z, don't add anything for the plural; just change the article.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

If a French noun already ends in -s, -x, or -z, you don't add anything to make it plural.

  • If a word ends in -s (le pays), the plural is the same (les pays).
  • If a word ends in -x (le prix), the plural is the same (les prix).
  • If a word ends in -z (le nez), the plural is the same (les nez).
Noun(-s/-x/-z) + (no change) = Plural

Overview

Welcome to one of French pluralization's most consistent and learner-friendly rules. Unlike many languages where plural forms always involve adding suffixes, French offers a distinct approach for nouns already ending in -s, -x, or -z. The fundamental reason behind this pattern lies in French phonology and orthography.

In French, final -s, -x, and -z at the end of a word are typically silent. This means that whether you say un prix (one price) or des prix (many prices), the pronunciation of prix remains identical. Consequently, adding another silent letter, like an additional -s to form a plural, would be redundant both phonetically and visually.

The language, therefore, opts for efficiency: the noun's spelling remains unchanged.

This rule powerfully underscores a core principle of French grammar: the article (le, la, un, une, des, les) often carries the primary burden of indicating number and gender. For nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z in their singular form, the article performs all the heavy lifting. You will find that mastering this concept early on is crucial because these specific noun endings are common in everyday French vocabulary.

For instance, you will frequently encounter des bus (buses), les prix (the prices), and les nez (the noses) without the base noun changing its form. This makes learning to read and hear plurals for these words much simpler, as your attention is directed to the articles rather than anticipating changes to the noun itself. It's an elegant solution that streamlines both written and spoken French for this particular set of words.

How This Grammar Works

The mechanism of this pluralization rule is strikingly straightforward. When you encounter a noun in its singular form that terminates with one of these three letters (-s, -x, or -z), you are immediately presented with a singular form that is also its plural form. The noun's spelling remains absolutely identical whether you are referring to a single item or multiple items.
This grammatical stability is a key feature that simplifies early French learning. The change that signals plurality does not occur within the noun itself, but rather with the article that precedes it. This external indicator is your guide to understanding the number.
Let's explore this with examples based on each ending:
  • Nouns ending in -s: Many common masculine and feminine nouns exhibit this pattern. For example, consider un bras (an arm). To make it plural, referring to "arms," you change un to des, resulting in des bras. Notice how bras itself is invariant. Another instance is le tapis (the rug); its plural becomes les tapis (the rugs). The pronunciation of the final -s in bras or tapis is consistently silent in both singular and plural forms, which is precisely why the spelling remains unchanged. In spoken French, a liaison might occur with the plural article les before a vowel-starting noun, for example, les‿ours (the bears), where the -s of les is pronounced as a /z/ sound, but the final -s of ours remains silent.
  • Nouns ending in -x: This category includes words like la voix (the voice). To speak of "the voices," you transform la into les, yielding les voix. The word voix retains its singular spelling. Similarly, un choix (a choice) pluralizes to des choix (choices). The final -x is uniformly silent. It's important to differentiate this from the rare instances where -x might signify plurality for words like château (which adds -x to form châteaux), where the base singular form does not end in -x. Here, the -x is already part of the singular word, such as in le prix (the price) becoming les prix (the prices).
  • Nouns ending in -z: While a smaller group, these nouns follow the same exact principle. Take le nez (the nose). Its plural form is les nez (the noses). The word nez experiences no internal alteration. Another example is le gaz (the gas), which becomes les gaz (the gases). In all these cases, the final -z is silent, reinforcing the visual-only nature of the plural marker provided by the article.
In essence, for an A1 learner, this rule translates to a straightforward directive: if the singular noun ends in -s, -x, or -z, leave the noun alone and change the article. The audio cues for plurality will almost exclusively come from the article, making clear articulation of articles crucial for both speaking and listening comprehension.

Formation Pattern

1
Applying this rule to form plurals is a simple, mechanical process. You do not modify the noun; you solely focus on adjusting the article that precedes it. This clear-cut pattern minimizes confusion for learners.
2
Here’s the step-by-step formation process:
3
Identify the singular noun: Determine the base form of the word you want to make plural.
4
Check the final letter: Observe if the singular noun ends in -s, -x, or -z. If it does, this rule applies.
5
Retain noun spelling: The noun itself will not change its written form in the plural. Write it exactly as it appears in the singular.
6
Adjust the article: Replace the singular article with its corresponding plural equivalent.
7
The following table demonstrates this pattern comprehensively, covering both definite (specific) and indefinite (general) articles:
8
| Singular Article | Plural Article | Example Noun (Singular) | Example Noun (Plural) | English Meaning |
9
| :----------------------- | :----------------------- | :---------------------- | :-------------------- | :-------------------------- |
10
| un (masculine) | des | un bus | des bus | a bus / buses |
11
| une (feminine) | des | une fois | des fois | a time / times (e.g., many times) |
12
| le (masculine) | les | le cours | les cours | the course / the courses |
13
| la (feminine) | les | la voix | les voix | the voice / the voices |
14
| l' (before vowel/h muet) | les | l'ours (masculine) | les ours | the bear / the bears |
15
Consider the word un mois (a month). To pluralize it to "some months," you retain mois as is and change un to des. Thus, des mois. Similarly, le temps (the time/weather) becomes les temps (the times/weathers – depending on context). The noun remains temps. This simplicity allows you to quickly form correct plurals for a significant portion of French vocabulary without needing to alter the base word.

Gender & Agreement

One of the most reassuring aspects of this specific pluralization rule is its independence from grammatical gender. Whether a noun is masculine (masculin) or feminine (féminin), if its singular form ends in -s, -x, or -z, its written form will remain entirely consistent in the plural. The noun itself does not change to reflect its gender or its newly acquired plural status.
However, it is crucial to remember that the noun's inherent gender persists and remains important for other grammatical elements within a sentence, particularly for adjective agreement. Adjectives in French must agree in both gender and number with the noun they modify. This is a broader rule of French grammar that applies regardless of the noun's pluralization pattern.
Let's illustrate with examples:
  • Masculine Nouns:
  • Un gros nez (a big nose). Here, nez is masculine. The adjective gros (big) is masculine singular. Note that gros already ends in -s in its singular masculine form.
  • In the plural: Des gros nez (some big noses). The noun nez does not change. The article un becomes des. The adjective gros also retains its form because its masculine plural form is identical to its masculine singular form (it already ends in -s). Thus, no visible change occurs for the adjective either in this specific case.
  • Feminine Nouns:
  • Une petite souris (a small mouse). Here, souris is feminine. The adjective petite (small) is feminine singular. It ends in -e.
  • In the plural: Des petites souris (some small mice). The noun souris remains unchanged. The article une becomes des. The adjective petite transforms to petites to agree with the plural feminine souris. This change in the adjective highlights that while the noun is immutable, the full grammatical agreement of a phrase still functions as expected. The gender of souris (feminine) dictates that petite must be used, and its plural form petites (with an -s) indicates the number.
For A1 learners, the primary takeaway is: the noun itself is fixed when ending in -s, -x, or -z. You do not need to worry about adding gender-specific endings to these specific nouns for pluralization. However, always be mindful of the noun's gender (as indicated by the singular article, e.g., le for masculine, la for feminine) because this gender will dictate the form of any accompanying adjectives.
This interaction demonstrates the interconnectedness of French grammar components, even within seemingly simple rules.

When To Use It

This pluralization rule is not an obscure exception; it applies to a significant number of frequently used French nouns, making its understanding essential for daily communication. You will employ this rule every time you need to express the idea of "more than one" for words that fall into this category.
Consider these common scenarios and vocabulary:
  • Academic and Professional Life:
  • Discussing your schedule: J'ai trois cours de maths et un cours de français cette semaine. (I have three math courses and one French course this week.) Here, cours remains unchanged regardless of whether it's one or many, with the number trois and the indefinite article un signaling quantity.
  • Analyzing options: Nous devons prendre des choix difficiles pour l'avenir de l'entreprise. (We must make difficult choices for the company's future.) The noun choix is identical in singular and plural, indicated by des.
  • Reading feedback: Veuillez lire attentivement les avis des clients. (Please read the customer opinions carefully.) avis (opinion/s) is invariant; les denotes plurality.
  • Shopping and Daily Transactions:
  • Checking prices: Les prix des légumes ont augmenté. (The prices of vegetables have increased.) prix does not change; les indicates multiple prices.
  • Buying everyday items: J'ai acheté deux bus jouets pour mon neveu. (I bought two toy buses for my nephew.) bus stays the same; the number deux signifies plurality.
  • Travel and Geography:
  • Talking about nations: J'ai visité plusieurs pays en Europe. (I visited several countries in Europe.) pays (country/countries) is a common example, with plusieurs (several) making the number clear.
  • Discussing time: Nous partirons dans deux mois. (We will leave in two months.) mois (month/s) remains consistent; deux specifies the quantity.
  • Health and Body:
  • Describing anatomy: Les bras et les jambes sont importants pour la course. (Arms and legs are important for running.) bras (arm/s) does not change; les signals plurality.
  • Sensory descriptions: J'entends des voix bizarres la nuit. (I hear strange voices at night.) voix (voice/s) is invariant; des indicates multiple voices.
This rule applies to a core set of vocabulary, making its quick mastery a significant step towards fluent French communication.

Common Mistakes

Even with straightforward rules, learners often fall into predictable traps. Being aware of these common errors and understanding why they occur can help you avoid them.
  • The "Extra -s Syndrome": The most prevalent mistake is attempting to add an additional -s to nouns that already end in -s. For example, writing des buss instead of des bus, or les courss instead of les cours. This is grammatically incorrect and immediately identifies you as a non-native speaker. The noun's form is already stable; adding another -s is redundant and creates a spelling error.
  • Why it happens: Learners often over-generalize the most common French pluralization rule (adding -s) and apply it universally, forgetting the specific exception for words already ending in -s, -x, or -z.
  • Forgetting to Change the Article: While the noun itself remains invariant, the accompanying article must change to signal plurality. A common error is saying or writing le prix when you intend to mean "the prices." This creates confusion, as le prix unambiguously refers to a single price. The articles le, la, l', un, une must be correctly transformed to les or des in the plural.
  • Why it happens: Learners may become overly focused on the noun's unchanging form and neglect the crucial role of the article, which is the primary marker of number in these cases.
  • Misapplication to Sound-Alikes or Similar-Looking Words: Some learners mistakenly apply this rule to words that sound like they end in -s, -x, or -z but do not, or to words that look similar but follow different pluralization rules. For instance, citron (lemon) pluralizes to citrons by adding an -s, because its singular form does not end in -s, -x, or -z. Similarly, château (castle) pluralizes to châteaux (adding an -x to eau), which is a distinct rule for words ending in -eau or -au.
  • Why it happens: Reliance on phonetic intuition rather than the precise written form of the singular noun, or a failure to differentiate between the various French pluralization rules.
  • Confusion with Words that are Always Plural: Some French nouns are inherently plural, such as des ciseaux (scissors) or des vacances (vacation). While these also use plural articles, they do not follow the singular-to-plural transformation pattern discussed here, as they typically lack a common singular form. This is a point of distinction to keep in mind, although less common for A1 vocabulary.
To avoid these mistakes, always check the exact spelling of the singular noun and consciously choose the correct plural article.

Common Collocations

Collocations are natural pairings of words that frequently appear together, making your French sound more authentic and fluent. Integrating nouns that follow this pluralization rule into common collocations is an effective way to practice and internalize the pattern.
Here are some common collocations:
  • With prix (prices/awards):
  • des prix bas (low prices) — e.g., J'aime trouver des prix bas. (I like finding low prices.)
  • les prix Nobel (the Nobel Prizes) — e.g., Elle a étudié les prix Nobel. (She studied the Nobel Prizes.)
  • le rapport qualité-prix (the quality-price ratio) — often used to evaluate products. (This is singular, but useful context.)
  • gagner des prix (to win awards) — e.g., Il aime gagner des prix pour son travail. (He likes winning awards for his work.)
  • With cours (courses/classes):
  • prendre des cours (to take classes) — e.g., Je prends des cours de danse. (I'm taking dance classes.)
  • suivre des cours (to follow/attend classes) — e.g., Tu suis des cours à l'université ? (Are you attending classes at the university?)
  • des cours du soir (evening classes) — e.g., Il fait des cours du soir pour sa formation. (He's doing evening classes for his training.)
  • des cours intensifs (intensive courses) — e.g., Nous avons suivi des cours intensifs cet été. (We took intensive courses this summer.)
  • With pays (countries):
  • des pays voisins (neighboring countries) — e.g., La France a des pays voisins en Europe. (France has neighboring countries in Europe.)
  • voyager dans plusieurs pays (to travel to several countries) — e.g., Elle rêve de voyager dans plusieurs pays. (She dreams of traveling to several countries.)
  • les pays en développement (developing countries) — a more formal term, but common. (This is plural but for A1, maybe too complex.)
  • visiter des pays étrangers (to visit foreign countries) — e.g., J'aime visiter des pays étrangers. (I like visiting foreign countries.)
  • With choix (choices):
  • faire des choix (to make choices) — e.g., Dans la vie, on fait des choix. (In life, we make choices.)
  • avoir des choix difficiles (to have difficult choices) — e.g., Nous avons des choix difficiles à faire. (We have difficult choices to make.)
  • un éventail de choix (a range of choices) — often used to describe options. (This is singular.)
  • With voix (voices):
  • des voix fortes (loud voices) — e.g., J'entends des voix fortes dehors. (I hear loud voices outside.)
  • entendre des voix (to hear voices) — e.g., Il pensait entendre des voix. (He thought he was hearing voices.)
  • à haute voix (aloud/in a loud voice) — e.g., Lisez le texte à haute voix. (Read the text aloud.)
Practicing these collocations will help you naturally incorporate the correct plural forms into your French.

Real Conversations

This grammatical pattern is omnipresent in authentic French communication, from casual texts to professional emails. Observe how native speakers integrate it. Paying attention to these examples will deepen your understanding of the rule in context, particularly the auditory cues.

- Texting/Social Media (Informal, uses tu):

- Friend A: Salut ! Tu as vu les prix des billets pour le concert ? (Hi! Did you see the ticket prices for the concert?)

- Friend B: Oui, les prix sont un peu élevés, mais ça vaut le coup ! (Yes, the prices are a bit high, but it's worth it!)

- Observation: prix (prices) remains unchanged, plurality is clear from les. The informal tu is common here.

- Friend A: On a eu trois cours super intéressants aujourd'hui. (We had three super interesting classes today.)

- Friend B: Ah bon ? Quels cours ? J'ai eu des cours ennuyeux. (Oh really? Which classes? I had boring classes.)

- Observation: cours remains invariant, with trois and des signaling plurality. intéressants and ennuyeux agree in number with cours.

- Casual Chat (Informal, uses on or vous):

- On a visité plusieurs pays pendant nos vacances d'été. (We visited several countries during our summer vacation.)

- J'entends des voix qui parlent dans le couloir. (I hear voices talking in the hallway.)

- Observation: pays and voix demonstrate the rule in spoken French. The quantifiers plusieurs and des (a form of the indefinite article) indicate plurality. In both cases, the nouns' pronunciations are identical to their singular forms.

- Work/Professional Context (More Formal, uses vous):

- Veuillez consulter les avis de notre équipe technique. (Please consult the opinions of our technical team.)

- Nous avons examiné les choix possibles pour optimiser le projet. (We examined the possible choices to optimize the project.)

- Observation: Even in more formal contexts, avis and choix maintain their singular form while les denotes plurality. This demonstrates the consistency of the rule across different registers.

- Key takeaway: In spoken French, because the final -s, -x, -z are silent, the article is often the sole audible cue to plurality. Mastering the articles is thus doubly important for comprehension. Remember to pronounce les clearly, and consider liaison when appropriate (e.g., les‿avis – pronounced /le.za.vi/).

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Does the pronunciation of the noun change between singular and plural forms for these words?
  • A: Generally, no. The final -s, -x, or -z is typically silent in both singular and plural forms. The distinction is almost always made solely by the article (e.g., le prix vs. les prix sound identical for prix). Pay attention to liaison for the article itself, like les‿hommes.
  • Q: Are there many words ending in -z?
  • A: This group is relatively small compared to -s and -x endings, especially at the A1 level. The most common examples you'll encounter are un nez (a nose) and le gaz (the gas).
  • Q: How can I tell if un bras refers to one arm or des bras refers to multiple arms in a sentence?
  • A: You rely entirely on the article (un for singular, des for plural) and the context of the sentence. Without the article or other clear indicators (like a number), it would be ambiguous. The article is your primary signal.
  • Q: What about nouns that end in -s, -x, or -z but are always plural, even in English (like "trousers")?
  • A: French handles these on a case-by-case basis. For example, des ciseaux (scissors) is always plural in French. However, the rule discussed here applies specifically when a noun has both a singular and plural form, and its singular already ends in -s, -x, or -z. Words that are inherently plural (pluralia tantum) are a separate category.
  • Q: Is this rule consistent across all French-speaking regions?
  • A: Yes, this is a fundamental and universal rule of standard French grammar, applicable in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and other Francophone areas. It's a foundational element of French orthography.
  • Q: Does this rule apply to proper nouns (names of people, places)?
  • A: For most proper nouns, pluralization rules are either non-existent or follow different conventions (e.g., les États-Unis – the United States, is a fixed plural proper noun). This specific rule applies primarily to common nouns.
  • Q: Is it okay to make a mistake and add an extra s sometimes? Will people understand?
  • A: While most people will likely understand your meaning from context, it is a grammatical error that will be noticed. Aim for accuracy, as correct article usage and noun forms significantly enhance clarity and fluency. Correct spelling demonstrates careful learning and respect for the language.

Pluralization Patterns

Singular Plural Ending Status
Le prix
Les prix
-x
Invariable
Le pays
Les pays
-s
Invariable
Le nez
Les nez
-z
Invariable
Le chat
Les chats
-t
Standard
Le livre
Les livres
-e
Standard
Le choix
Les choix
-x
Invariable

Meanings

This rule governs nouns that remain identical in their singular and plural forms because they already end in specific 'hissing' or 'stop' consonants.

1

Invariable Nouns

Nouns that do not change spelling in the plural.

“Le pays est grand.”

“Les pays sont grands.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Plural: Words Ending in -s, -x, -z (No Change)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Article + Noun
Les prix sont bas.
Negative
Article + Noun + ne...pas
Les prix ne sont pas bas.
Question
Est-ce que + Article + Noun
Est-ce que les prix sont bas?
Short Answer
Oui/Non + Article + Noun
Oui, les prix.
Pluralization
No change to noun
Le pays -> Les pays
Adjective Agreement
Adjective + s
Les pays sont grands.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Les prix sont élevés.

Les prix sont élevés. (Shopping)

Neutral
Les prix sont hauts.

Les prix sont hauts. (Shopping)

Informal
Les prix sont chers.

Les prix sont chers. (Shopping)

Slang
Les prix, c'est la mort.

Les prix, c'est la mort. (Shopping)

The Invariable Rule

Noun Ending

Ends in -s

  • pays country

Ends in -x

  • prix price

Ends in -z

  • nez nose
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Examples by Level

1

Le prix est bon.

The price is good.

2

Les prix sont bons.

The prices are good.

3

Le pays est grand.

The country is big.

4

Les pays sont grands.

The countries are big.

1

Il a un nez rouge.

He has a red nose.

2

Les nez sont fragiles.

Noses are fragile.

3

C'est un choix difficile.

It is a difficult choice.

4

Les choix sont difficiles.

The choices are difficult.

1

Le gaz est cher.

Gas is expensive.

2

Les gaz sont dangereux.

The gases are dangerous.

3

Le tapis est propre.

The rug is clean.

4

Les tapis sont propres.

The rugs are clean.

1

Le souris est rapide.

The mouse is fast.

2

Les souris sont rapides.

The mice are fast.

3

Le processus est long.

The process is long.

4

Les processus sont longs.

The processes are long.

1

Le corps est fatigué.

The body is tired.

2

Les corps sont fatigués.

The bodies are tired.

3

Le cours est fini.

The class is over.

4

Les cours sont finis.

The classes are over.

1

Le succès est rare.

Success is rare.

2

Les succès sont rares.

Successes are rare.

3

Le faux est évident.

The fake is obvious.

4

Les faux sont évidents.

The fakes are obvious.

Easily Confused

French Plural: Words Ending in -s, -x, -z (No Change) vs Standard Plural (-s)

Learners try to add -s to everything.

French Plural: Words Ending in -s, -x, -z (No Change) vs Irregular Plurals (-aux)

Learners think everything ending in -al becomes -aux.

French Plural: Words Ending in -s, -x, -z (No Change) vs Adjective Agreement

Learners forget to pluralize the adjective.

Common Mistakes

✗

les prixs

✓

les prix

Adding an s to a word ending in x.
✗

le prix

✓

les prix

Forgetting to change the article.
✗

les payss

✓

les pays

Doubling the final s.
✗

les nezs

✓

les nez

Adding s to z.
✗

les choixs

✓

les choix

Over-generalizing the plural rule.
✗

les gazs

✓

les gaz

Adding s to z.
✗

les souriss

✓

les souris

Doubling the s.
✗

les processus

✓

les processus

Confusion with Latin endings.
✗

les cours

✓

les cours

Thinking it needs an extra s.
✗

les corpss

✓

les corps

Doubling the s.
✗

les succèses

✓

les succès

Applying -es rule.
✗

les fauxs

✓

les faux

Adding s to x.
✗

les nez

✓

les nez

Correct, but sometimes learners doubt themselves.

Sentence Patterns

Les ___ sont grands.

Les ___ sont chers.

J'aime les ___.

Les ___ ne sont pas bons.

Real World Usage

Shopping constant

Les prix sont affichés.

Travel very common

J'ai visité plusieurs pays.

Social Media common

Les choix sont faits !

Texting common

Les prix ? Trop chers.

Job Interview occasional

Les processus sont clairs.

Food Delivery common

Les prix sont bas.

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💡

Check the Article

If you see 'les', the noun is plural, even if it looks singular.
⚠️

Don't Add S

If the word ends in s, x, or z, stop yourself from adding an extra s.
🎯

Verb Agreement

Remember that the verb must still agree with the plural subject.
💬

Pronunciation

Don't try to pronounce the silent final s, x, or z.

Smart Tips

Stop and don't add an s!

les prixs → les prix

Check the article first.

le prix sont hauts → les prix sont hauts

Look at the singular form's ending.

les payss → les pays

Remember that adjectives must still agree.

les prix sont haut → les prix sont hauts

Pronunciation

prix /pʁi/

Final consonants

The final s, x, or z is usually silent in both singular and plural.

Rising

Les prix? ↗

Questioning the price.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

S, X, Z: Keep it free! Don't add a letter, just let it be.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Stop' sign shaped like an X, an S, and a Z. When you see these signs, you must stop adding letters to your word.

Rhyme

If it ends in S, X, or Z, it stays the same, you see!

Story

Pierre has a big nose (le nez). He goes to the store and sees many noses (les nez) in a painting. He checks the price (le prix) and sees all the prices (les prix) are the same. He travels to many countries (les pays) and realizes the rule never changes.

Word Web

paysprixnezchoixsouristapisgaz

Challenge

Find 5 words in a French newspaper that end in -s, -x, or -z and write their plural forms (which will be the same!).

Cultural Notes

French speakers are very sensitive to the 's' sound. Adding an extra 's' makes it sound like a snake.

In Quebec, the pronunciation of final consonants can be more distinct, but the rule remains identical.

Belgian French follows the same written rules as standard French.

These words mostly come from Latin words that already ended in s, x, or z.

Conversation Starters

“

Quels sont les prix ici?

“

Tu aimes quels pays?

“

Quels sont tes choix?

“

Quels processus tu suis?

Journal Prompts

List 3 countries you want to visit.
Describe the prices in your city.
Discuss the choices you made today.
Reflect on the processes in your work.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct plural form. Multiple Choice

Le prix -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: les prix
The word ends in x, so it is invariable.
Fill in the blank.

Les ___ sont beaux. (pays)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pays
Pays ends in s, so it is invariable.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Les nezs sont rouges.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les nez sont rouges.
Nez is invariable.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

sont / les / chers / prix

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les prix sont chers.
Correct pluralization and agreement.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les choix
Choix ends in x.
Select the correct plural. Multiple Choice

Le gaz -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: les gaz
Gaz ends in z.
Fill in the blank.

Les ___ sont propres. (tapis)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tapis
Tapis ends in s.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Les souriss sont rapides.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les souris sont rapides.
Souris ends in s.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct plural form. Multiple Choice

Le prix -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: les prix
The word ends in x, so it is invariable.
Fill in the blank.

Les ___ sont beaux. (pays)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pays
Pays ends in s, so it is invariable.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Les nezs sont rouges.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les nez sont rouges.
Nez is invariable.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

sont / les / chers / prix

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les prix sont chers.
Correct pluralization and agreement.
Match singular to plural. Match Pairs

Le choix

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les choix
Choix ends in x.
Select the correct plural. Multiple Choice

Le gaz -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: les gaz
Gaz ends in z.
Fill in the blank.

Les ___ sont propres. (tapis)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tapis
Tapis ends in s.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Les souriss sont rapides.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les souris sont rapides.
Souris ends in s.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank with the plural of 'choix'. Fill in the Blank

Tu as beaucoup de ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: choix
Translate the phrase to French. Translation

The prices

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les prix
Reorder the words to make a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

prix / Les / sont / bas / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les prix sont bas.
Match the singular to the plural form. Match Pairs

Match the singular and plural pairs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: un pays : des pays
Fix the plural form of 'voix'. Error Correction

Les voixs sont belles.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les voix sont belles.
Select the correct plural form of 'souris'. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Des souris
Make 'autobus' plural. Fill in the Blank

Deux ___ arrivent.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: autobus
Translate: 'Many choices' Translation

Many choices

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Beaucoup de choix
Reorder: 'countries / The / are / big' Sentence Reorder

pays / Les / sont / grands / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les pays sont grands.
Identify the correct plural form for 'nez'. Multiple Choice

Plural of 'nez'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nez

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because they already end in s, x, or z. Adding another letter would make them impossible to pronounce.

Look at the article (les) and the verb (sont).

Yes, some words like 'oeil' change completely to 'yeux'.

Yes, all nouns ending in s are invariable.

No, it's actually easier than the standard rule!

Yes, it is the standard rule.

Adjectives still need to be pluralized with an s.

Extremely common.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Pluralization with -s/-es

Spanish doesn't have the 'invariable' exception for -s words.

German low

Various plural endings

German plurals are highly irregular compared to French.

Japanese low

No plural marker

French requires agreement with articles and verbs.

Arabic low

Broken plurals

Arabic is non-concatenative.

Chinese none

No plural marker

Chinese has no grammatical gender or number agreement.

English moderate

Pluralization with -s

English doesn't have invariable nouns like 'prix'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Plurals: Just Add -s
Next
French Plural Nouns: Words Ending in -eau and -au (-x)

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