Singular French Nouns


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Noms singuliers

While most nouns, in both French and English, can be singular or plural, some can only be one or the other – and dozens of these don’t "match up" in the two languages. The nouns on this page are singular in French but plural in English.

Grammar note

These French nouns are singular in every respect: they require the third-person singular (il / elle) form of the verb, no plural adjective agreement (though feminine may be required), etc.

Par exemple …

Le feu d’artifice est magnifique !		The fireworks are wonderful!
Il porte une cotte noire.		He’s wearing black overalls.

l’actualité		news
avoine	(f)	oats
une balance		scales
la batterie		drums
un boxer-short		boxer shorts
un caleçon de bain		swimming trunks
un collant		tights	*
la contenance		contents
le contenu		contents
une cotte		overalls, dungarees
un dentier		dentures
epsomite	(f)	Epsom salts
un escalier		stairs
un feu d’artifice		fireworks
la gencive		gums
un jean		jeans
un jogging		sweat pants
un pantalon		pants, trousers
une pince		pliers	*
une pince coupante		wire cutters
une pince à dénuder		wire strippers
une pince à épiler		tweezers
une pince à glace		ice tongs
une pince à ongles		nail clippers
un pyjama		pyjamas
un short		shorts
un slip		underpants
un slip de bain		swimming trunks
un soufflet		bellows
la vaisselle (faire la vaisselle)		dishes, crockery (to do the dishes)

* Note

These nouns are usually singular in French, but are occasionally used in the plural (lesson coming soon).

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Singular Nouns

Noms singuliers