Forming the plural of French nouns ending in -al

French words ending in -al have a different ending in the plural form. 

Learn how to form the plural of French nouns ending in -al

Look at these examples:

J'ai un animal familier. J'adore les animaux !I have a pet. I love animals!

Tu as un cheval ? - Non, j'ai deux chevaux.Do you have a horse? - No, I have two horses.

Il y a un hôpital dans ma ville. - Il y a trois hôpitaux ici !There's one hospital in my town. - There are three hospitals here!

Je lis le journal tous les jours.  - Je déteste les journaux !I read the newspaper every day. - I hate newspapers!

Note that most nouns ending in -al become -aux in the plural.

 

But as usual in French, there are some exceptions !

Here is a list of the most common ones:

des bals([dancing] balls),
des carnavals,
des festivals,
des récitals
,
des régals (feasts/delights),
des chacals (jackals)
etc

 

See also Forming the plural of adjectives ending in -al in French 
and Forming the plural of French adjectives ending in -al (exceptions)

 

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Je lis le journal tous les jours.  - Je déteste les journaux !I read the newspaper every day. - I hate newspapers!
J'ai un animal familier. J'adore les animaux !I have a pet. I love animals!
Il y a un hôpital dans ma ville. - Il y a trois hôpitaux ici !There's one hospital in my town. - There are three hospitals here!
Tu as un cheval ? - Non, j'ai deux chevaux.Do you have a horse? - No, I have two horses.
Ils ont organisé plusieurs bals pour l'anniversaire de la Reine.They organised several balls for the Queen's birthday.
Les chacals vivent en Afrique.Jackals live in Africa.
Ce pianiste a donné cinquante récitals cette année.This pianist gave fifty recitals this year.
"Les pluriel des noms" by youlearnfrench.blogspot.com
"Plurals in French" by www.frenchspanishonline.com
Thinking...