French Plural Nouns and Articles: Choosing un, une, les, and des
Learn how French marks plural nouns with -s, and when to choose un, une, les, or des. Includes patterns, a dialogue, and practice for beginners.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
French nouns change form for number, and the article in front of them changes too. The direct answer: add -s to most nouns to make them plural (un livre becomes des livres), use un before a masculine singular noun and une before a feminine singular noun, use les for a specific known group, and use des for an unspecified plural group. This lesson teaches those four forms together so you can build simple, correct sentences about one thing or several things. Les also refers to a whole category, as in Les livres sont utiles (Books are useful); it is not limited to groups already mentioned.
By the end, you can…
- form regular French noun plurals by adding -s and recognize the -x and -aux examples in this lesson.
- choose between un, une, les, and des in simple sentences.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
un livre
a book
uh(n) LEEVR
Masculine singular indefinite: one unspecified book.
une table
a table
ewn TAHBL
Feminine singular indefinite: one unspecified table.
les livres
the books
lay LEEVR
Definite plural: the books in this conversation. Les can also refer to books as a category.
des tables
some tables
day TAHBL
Indefinite plural: an unspecified number of tables.
J'achète des livres.
I'm buying some books.
zhah-SHET day LEEVR
A full sentence using des with a plural noun.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Most French nouns add -s in the plural: un livre becomes des livres, une table becomes des tables. Nouns ending in -eau add -x instead: un gâteau becomes des gâteaux. Nouns ending in -al often change to -aux: un journal becomes des journaux. The article must agree in number and gender: un for masculine singular, une for feminine singular, les for definite plural, des for indefinite plural. For example, un étudiant, une étudiante, les étudiants, des étudiants. The written final -s is normally silent: livre and livres sound alike, as do table and tables. Listen for the article to distinguish un livre from les livres and une table from des tables.
When to use it
Use un or une when you mention one unspecified item: Je cherche un café. Use les when both speakers know which group you mean: Les cafés sont fermés. Use des for an unspecified plural: Il y a des cafés ici. In negative sentences, des usually becomes de: Je n'ai pas de livres. After expressions of quantity, use de: beaucoup de livres. Les also introduces a category in general statements: Les livres sont utiles (Books are useful). In the shop dialogue, les livres refers to the cookbooks the speakers have just mentioned.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je cherche un livre de cuisine.
Hello, I'm looking for a cookbook.bohn-ZHOOR, zhuh SHERSH uh(n) LEEVR duh kwee-ZEENNous avons des livres de cuisine ici.
We have some cookbooks here.noo zah-VOHN day LEEVR duh kwee-ZEEN ee-SEEEst-ce que les livres sont en français ?
Are the books in French?ess-kuh lay LEEVR sohn ahn frahn-SEHOui, les livres sont en français.
Yes, the books are in French.wee, lay LEEVR sohn ahn frahn-SEHA little context goes a long way
Listen to the articles in the recordings: un livre, une table, les livres, des tables. The noun endings in livres and tables are written plural markers; their final -s is normally silent. The article carries an audible number cue in these examples.
One thing to watch for
Using les for an unspecified plural, as in Je cherche les livres when you mean any books.
Try this instead: Use des for an unspecified plural in this request: Je cherche des livres. Use les when you mean particular books: Les livres sont sur la table. Les can also refer to a category in general statements, such as Les livres sont utiles.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Make une chaise plural with the correct indefinite article.
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des chaises
Une becomes des in the plural. Chaise adds -s. Des chaises is correct for an unspecified plural.
2Choose the indefinite article: Je vois ___ homme.
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un
Homme is masculine singular, so un is correct. Une would be used with a feminine noun like une femme.
3Translate: The books are here.
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Les livres sont ici.
Les is the definite plural article. The noun livre adds -s. Sont is the plural form of être.
Add -s to most nouns in writing. Use un or une for one unspecified item, des for an unspecified plural, and les for a specific group or a whole category. Listen for the article: the final -s in livres and tables is normally silent.
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