In French, most nouns ending in -ou take an -s in the plural form, but for 7 exceptions that take an -x.
7 French nouns ending in -ou that take -x in the plural form
le bijou | les bijoux | jewel(s) |
le chou | les choux | cabbage(s) |
le caillou | les cailloux | stone(s) |
le joujou | les joujoux | toy(s) |
le genou | les genoux | knee(s) |
le pou | les poux | louse/lice |
le hibou | les hiboux | owl(s) |
Listen to these examples:
Fun mnemotechnics to remember the 7 exceptions in -oux
1- The first two stanzas from Robert Desnos's poem "Les Hiboux":
Ce sont les mères des hiboux Leurs yeux d'or valent des bijoux |
Those are the owls' mothers Their golden eyes are worthy of jewels |
2- To the tune of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes":
Bijoux, Cailloux Genoux, Joujoux (répétez) Chou-ou-ou-oux Poux et Hiboux Bijoux, Cailloux Genoux, Joujoux |
Jewels, Pebbles Knees and Toys (repeat) Ca-a-bba-age Lice and Owls Jewels, Pebbles Knees and Toys! |
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