| 3.3.1.2 Plural morphemes -eux, -aux |
When a noun ends on
eau or
au the plural ending is not
-s, but
-x.
| -x substitutes s when the noun ends with eu, au, eau |
 |
le gâteau |
les gâteaux |
cake / cakes |
|
le cadeau |
les cadeaux |
gift / gifts |
|
la peau |
les peaux |
skin / skins |
|
l' oiseau |
les oiseaux |
bird / birds |
|
le caveau |
les caveaux |
vault / vaults |
|
le cheval |
les chevaux |
horse / horses |
|
le mal |
les maux |
suffering / sufferings |
|
le cheveu |
les cheveux |
hair / - |
|
le feu |
les feux |
fire / fires |
|
le lieu |
les lieux |
place / places |
Also nouns ending on
ail or
al change in plural forms to
-aux.
|
le travail |
les travaux |
task / tasks |
|
l' animal |
les animaux |
animal / animals |
|
le journal |
les journaux |
news paper / news papers |
In summary one can say that nouns ending on
ail,
al,
eau or
au form their plural with
-(e)aux. Nouns ending on
eu change in plural to
eux.
And, no rules without exception:
| Exception |
|
le festival |
les festivals |
festival / festivals |
