Plural of common nouns

In general, you add -s for the plural. Nouns ending in -au, -eau, -eu take -x. Nouns ending in -al become -aux (with some exceptions). Nouns ending in -ou take -s (with 7 exceptions in -x).

General rule: -s. Nouns in -eau/-au/-eu: -x. Nouns in -al: -aux.

Examples

Des bateaux sur l'eau.

Key word(s): bateaux

A noun in -eau, so the plural is in -x.

Des feux de joie.

Key word(s): feux

A noun in -eu, so the plural is in -x.

Des chevaux sauvages.

Key word(s): chevaux

A noun in -al, so the plural is in -aux.

Des bals costumés.

Key word(s): bals

Exception: bal, carnaval, festival, récital take -s.

Des bijoux précieux.

Key word(s): bijoux

Exception in -ou: bijou takes -x in the plural.

Common mistakes

Writing "des bateaus" (-s instead of -x for -eau)
Writing "des chevals" (-s instead of -aux for -al)
Forgetting the 7 exceptions in -ou that take -x

Test yourself

Des ___.

Tips to remember

The 7 nouns in -ou that take -x: bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou.
Exceptions in -al that take -s: bal, carnaval, festival, récital, chacal, régal.
Nouns in -s, -x, -z stay the same: une souris/des souris, une noix/des noix.

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