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)

 

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

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
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.
Clever stuff happening!