Languages › French A List of English Singulars That Are French Plurals Share Flipboard Email Print Image Source/Getty Images French Grammar Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on March 01, 2019 Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular or uncountable, or have unmarked plurals in English but are plural or countable in French. * These are usually but not always plural in French ** Data is the plural of datum but is commonly used as a singular noun in English *** The plurals of these nouns are unmarked in English **** These nouns are uncountable in English but countable in French Adjectival Nouns in French In addition, adjectives that are used as nouns when referring to a group of people do not have an s in English, though they do in French: Advice — Conseils Ammunition — Munitions Asparagus — Asperges Attic — Combles Audience — Spectateurs, auditeurs Baggage, luggage — Bagages Broccoli — Brocolis Business — Affaires To cause damage — Causer des dégâts Cereal — Céréales Chess — Échecs Clothing — Vêtements Contact information/name and address — Coordonnées Damage — Dommage(s),* dégâts Darkness — Ténèbres Data** — Données Debris — Débris Deer — Cerf(s), biche(s)*** Deposit — Arrhes To do research — Faire des recherches Engagement — Fiançailles Evidence — Preuve(s)**** To feel remorse — Éprouver des remords Fish — Poisson(s)*** Food — Vivres, victuailles Forecast — Prévisions Fruit — Fruit(s)**** Funeral — Funérailles, obsèques Furniture — Meubles Garbage, rubbish — Déchets, ordures Gift (for Christmas or New Year's) — Étrennes Graffiti — Graffitis Hair — Cheveux Havoc — Ravages Hay — Foins* Herringbone — Chevrons Holiday(s) (British English) — Vacances Homework — Devoirs Income — Revenu(s), rente(s)* Information — Informations, renseignements Knowledge — Connaissances* Lovemaking — Ébats amoureux/sexuels Math (American English) — Maths Medicine — Médicaments Offal — Abats Pasta — Pâtes Period (to have one's period) — Règles (avoir ses règles) Progress — Progrès* Quicksand — Sables mouvants Rubble — Décombres Science — Sciences* Sheep — Mouton(s)*** Shrimp — Crevettes Software — Logiciel(s)**** Spaghetti — Spaghettis Spinach — Épinards Static — Parasites There's a good chance that… — Il y a de fortes chances que... Transportation — Transports Vacation — Vacances Vicinity — Environs Volcanic smoke and gas — Fumerolles* Wedding — Noces* The dead — Les morts The living — Les vivants The poor — Les pauvres The rich — Les riches The sick — Les malades The young — Les jeunes Nouns That Are Singular in French, Plural in English Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular, uncountable, or invariable in French but are plural or countable in English. * These are usually but not always singular in French** Many French compound nouns are invariable, though their English equivalents are variable. News — L'actualitéOats — Avoine (fem)Scales — Une balanceDrums — La batterieBoxer shorts — Un boxer-shortSwimming trunks — Un caleçon de bainTights — Collant(s)*Contents — Le contenu, la contenanceOveralls, dungarees — Une cotteDentures — Un dentierEpsom salts — Epsomite (fem)Stairs — Un escalierFireworks — Un feu d'artificeFruit — Un fruit (piece of)Skyscraper — Un gratte-ciel**Gums — La genciveJeans — Un jeanSweat pants — Un joggingTo do the dishes — Laver la vaisselle(Piece of) news — Une nouvelle(Loaf of) bread — Un painPants, trousers — Un pantalonPliers — Pince(s)*Wire cutters — Une pince coupanteWire strippers — Une pince à dénuderTweezers — Une pince à épilerIce tongs — Une pince à glace Nail clippers — Une pince à onglesCoin purse, wallet — Un porte-monnaie**Pyjamas — Un pyjamaShorts — un shortUnderpants — Un slipSwimming trunks — Un slip de bainBellows — Un souffletDishes, crockery (to do the dishes) — La vaisselle (faire la vaisselle) Some French Nouns Can Only Be Singular In both French and English, many nouns can be singular or plural: un homme (one man), deux hommes (two men), la chaise (the chair), les chaises (the chairs). But there are quite a few French nouns that can only be singular, sometimes because the noun has a different meaning in the plural. Here are some French nouns that can only be singular: Abstract Nouns Le bonheur — HappinessLa chaleur — Heat, warmthLa charité — Charity, kindnessLe chaud — HeatLe courage — CourageLa faim — HungerLe froid — ColdLa haine — HatredLa malchance — Bad luck, misfortuneLa mélancolie — Melancholy, gloomLa peur — FearLa soif — ThirstLa tristesse — SadnessLa vaillance — Courage, valor Arts and Crafts Le cinéma — Cinema, movie industryLa couture — SewingLa danse — DancingLe dessin — DrawingLa peinture — PaintingLa sculpture — SculptingLe théâtre — TheaterLe tissage — WeavingLe tricot — Knitting Directions La droite — RightL'est (m) — EastLa gauche — LeftLe nord — NorthL'ouest (m) — WestLe sud — South Materials and Matter Acier (m) — SteelArgent (m) — SilverLe bois — WoodLe coton — CottonLe cuir — LeatherLe cuivre — CopperLe fer — IronOr (m) — GoldLe papier — PaperLe plastique — PlasticLe plâtre — PlasterLa soie — SilkLe verre — Glass Sciences La biologie — BiologyLa botanique — BotanyLa chimie — ChemistryLa géologie — GeologyLa linguistique — LinguisticsLa philosophie — PhilosophyLa physique — PhysicsLa psychologie — PsychologyLa sociologie — Sociology Some French Nouns Can Only Be Plural In both French and English, many nouns can be singular or plural: un homme (one man), deux hommes (two men), la chaise (the chair), les chaises (the chairs). But there are quite a few French nouns that can only be plural, sometimes because the noun has a different meaning in the singular. Here are some French nouns that can only be plural: Les abats (m) — Offal, gibletsLes acariens (m) — Dust mitesLes affres (f) — Agony, throesLes agissements (m) — Schemes, intriguesLes agrès (m) — (Sports) apparatusLes alentours (m) — Neighborhood, surroundingsLes annales (f) — AnnalsLes appointements (m) — SalaryLes archives (f) — ArchivesLes armoiries (f) — Coat of armsLes arrérages (m) — ArrearsLes arrhes (f) — DepositLes auspices (m) — Auspices, patronageLes beaux-arts (m) — Fine artsLes beaux-enfants (m) — Children's spouses, in-laws / spouse's children, stepchildrenLes beaux-parents (m) — Spouse's parents, in-laws / parents' spouses, stepparentsLes bestiaux (m) — Livestock, cattleLes bonnes grâces (f) — Someone's favor, good gracesLes brisants (m) — (Ocean) breakersLes brisées (f) — Someone's territory, footstepsLes catacombes (f) — CatacombsLes céréales (f) — CerealLes cheveux (m) — HairLes comestibles (m) — Fine foodsLes communaux (m) — Common landLes condoléances (f) — CondolencesLes confins (m) — Borders, fringesLes coordonnées (f) — CoordinatesLes déboires (m) — Disappointments, setbacks, trialsLes décombres (m) — Rubble, debrisLes dépens (m) — Costs, expenseLes doléances (f) — Complaints, grievancesLes ébats (m) — FrolickingLes entrailles (f) — Entrails, gutsLes environs (m) — Outskirts, surroundingsLes épousailles (f) — NuptialsLes étrennes (f) — Fift (for Christmas or New Year's)Les façons (f) — Manners, behaviorLes floralies (f) — Flower showLes fonts baptismaux (f) — Baptismal fontLes fiançailles (f) — EngagementLes frais (m) — Expenses, chargesLes frusques (f informal) — Clothes, togs, ragsLes funerailles (f) — FuneralLes gens (m) — PeopleLes grands-parents (m) — GrandparentsLes honoraires (m) — FeesLes intempéries (f) — Bad weatherLes latrines (f) — LatrineLes limbes (m) — LimboLes lombes (m) — LoinsLes mathématiques (f) — Math(s)Les mémoires (m) — MemoirsLes menottes (f) — HandcuffsLes mœurs (f) — Morals, customsLes munitions (f) — AmmunitionLes obsèques (f) — FuneralLes ordures (f) — Trash, rubbishLes ouïes (f) — GillsLes pâtes (f) — Pasta, noodlesLes pierreries (f) — Gems, precious stonesLes pourparlers (m) — Negotiations, talksLes préparatifs (m) — PreparationsLes proches (m) — Close relations, next of kinLes ravages (m) — Havoc, ravagesLes représailles (f) — Retaliation, reprisalsLes royalties (f) — RoyaltiesLes scellés (m) — Seals (e.g., on a door)Les semailles (f) — Sowing, seedsLes sévices (m) — Physical cruelty, abuseLes ténèbres (f) — Darkness, gloomLes thermes (m) — Thermal bathsLes toilettes (f) — Lavatory, restroomLes vacances (f) — Vacation, (UK) holidayLes vêpres (f) — VespersLes victuailles (f) — Food, victualsLes vivres (m) — Food, supplies, provisions Nouns Meanings May Depend on Number Some French nouns can only be singular, some can only be plural, and some have different meanings depending on whether they are singular or plural. Abattis (m) — BrushwoodLes abattis (m) — Giblets, (informal) arms and legs, limbsAssise (f) — Wall support, foundationAssises (f) — Assembly, conferenceAutorité (f) — AuthorityLes autorités (f) — The authoritiesLe barbe — BarbLa barbe — BeardLes barbes (f) — Ragged edgeLe bois — Wood (in general), woodwind instrumentLes bois (m) — Woodwind sectionLe ciseau — ChiselLes ciseaux (m) — ScissorsLe comble — Height, peak; last straw (figurative)Les combles (m) — AtticLe cuivre — CopperLes cuivres (m) — Copper instruments, toolsLa douceur — Softness, gentlenessLes douceurs (f) — Sweets, desserts; sweet talkEau (f) — Water (in general)Les eaux (f) — River/lake/sea water, wakeÉconomie (f) — EconomicsLes économies (f) — SavingsÉcriture (f) — Writing, (finance) entryLes écritures (f) — Accounts, booksLa façon — Way, manner, meansLes façons (f) — Manners, behaviorLe fer — IronLes fers (m) — Chains, fettersLe guide — Guide (book, tour)La guide — Girl scout/guideLes guides (f) — ReinsHumanité (f) — Humanity, mankindLes humanités (f) — Humanities, classicsLe lendemain — The next day, the period right afterLes lendemains (m) — Future, prospects, consequencesLa lunette — TelescopeLes lunettes (f) — Glasses, spectaclesLa mémoire — MemoryLe mémoire — Memorandum, reportLes mémoires (m) — MemoirsLa menotte — (babytalk) HandLes menottes (f) — HandcuffsOuïe (f) — (sense of) HearingLes ouïes (f) — GillsLe papier — PaperLes papiers (m) — DocumentationLa pâte — Pastry, doughLes pâtes (f) — Pasta, noodlesLe ravage — (Literary) pillagingLes ravages (m) — Havoc, ravagesLe status — StatusLes status (m) — StatutesLa toilette — Toilette, hygiene, act of getting readyLes toilettes (f) — Lavatory, restroomLa vacance — VacancyLes vacances (f) — Vacation, holiday Arts and Crafts Nouns When talking about arts and crafts, a singular noun indicates the activity itself, while both the singular and plural refer to the product. Le cinéma — Cinema, movie industryLe(s) cinéma(s) — Cinema(s), movie theater(s)La couture — SewingLa (les) couture(s) — Seam(s)La danse — DancingLa (les) danse(s) — Dance(s)Le dessin — The act of drawingLe(s) dessin(s) — Drawing(s)La peinture — The act of paintingLa (les) peinture(s) — Painting(s)La sculpture — The act of sculptingLa (les) sculpture(s) — Sculpture(s)Le théâtre — Theater artsLe(s) théâtre(s) — Theaters(s)Le tricot — The act of knittingLe(s) tricot(s) — Sweater(s), jumper(s) Nouns Referring to Languages Languages are always singular (and always, au fait, masculine). When the name of a language is capitalized, both the singular and plural indicate people of that nationality. Anglais (m) — English languageUn Anglais, des Anglais — An Englishman, English peopleArabe (m) — Arabic languageUn Arabe, des Arabes — An Arab, ArabsLe français — French languageUn Français, des Français — A Frenchman, French people Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "A List of English Singulars That Are French Plurals." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/english-singulars-and-french-plurals-1368945. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). A List of English Singulars That Are French Plurals. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/english-singulars-and-french-plurals-1368945 Team, ThoughtCo. "A List of English Singulars That Are French Plurals." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/english-singulars-and-french-plurals-1368945 (accessed June 4, 2023). copy citation