Some plural English nouns are singular in French and vice versa
In French, collective nouns can be singular or plural.
Learn about French collective nouns
Singular where plural in English (Collective nouns)
La famille est heureuse.The family is/are happy.
La police va arrêter le criminel.The police are going to arrest the criminal.
In English, what we call collective nouns (e.g. family, team, police, company, ...) can be followed by a verb either in singular or plural form, depending on whether we consider the group as a single unit (singular), or as the individuals forming the group (plural).
However, these collective nouns are always followed by singular in French.
Plural where singular in English
Je vais en vacances en juillet.I'm going on holiday in July.
Elle a les cheveux blonds.She has blonde hair.
Note that words such as ''holiday'' (vacances) and ''hair'' (cheveux) are always plural in French. The adjectives or verbs following them are also in plural form.
Case of toilette(s)
Où sont les toilettes s'il vous plaît ?Where is the toilet/restroom please?
Je fais ma toilette tous les matins.I have a wash every morning.
I wash myself every morning.
I wash myself every morning.
Note that toilettes is always used in the plural to mean "the toilet/restroom".
La toilette (singular) in French means "a (personal) wash".
Examples and resources
I wash myself every morning.
