Singular Nouns

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.

Singular French nouns

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).

 Related lessons

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Singular French nouns

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