What’s the plural of “bureau”?
Bureau is singular. The plural of bureau is bureaus or bureaux.
We visited several government bureaus during our trip to Washington D.C.
Antique bureaux are often highly sought after by collectors.
She manages three different bureau within the large organization.
The store sells charming wooden bureausx perfect for a child’s room.
Is bureau plural?
Bureau is singular. Bureaus or bureaux is plural.
What’s a bureau?
The word bureau is understood as either “a specialized administrative unit” or “a low chest of drawers for use in a bedroom.”
Other French Nouns in English
| singular | plural |
|---|---|
| bureau | bureaux or bureaus |
| château | châteaux or chateaus |
| beau | beaux or beaus |
| tableau | tableaux or tableaus |
For “bureau,” remember “bureaus” for US offices and “bureaux” for antique furniture – associate “x” with “expensive antiques.”.
Examples of bureau used in context
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is helping local police with the investigation, the Washington D.C. office of the bureau revealed on Twitter. Phil Boucher, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2022
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
As assistant director of the bureau, Hoover had a front-row seat to the whole pageant. Time, 21 Nov. 2022
The number of pregnant women in custody dropped to 91 during 2020, the most recent year with data reported, according to the bureau. James Fanelli, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
The agent was able to gain control of them without further incident, according to the bureau. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2022
Examples of bureaux/bureaus used in context
Bureaux dassistance exist in every commune, and are managed by the combined committees of the hospices and the bureaux de bienfaisance…
European colonization, hampered by the ill-will of the Arab bureaux, then made little progress.
He selects for himself a staff of civilians (the cab-met du ministre), which is divided into bureaux for the despatch of business.
Later, as the state became more complicated, the term was extended over all the government bureaus.
Tim can easily claim to have worked at more foreign bureaux than anyone else in ITV news.
Synonyms of bureau
- branch
- division
- arm
- department
- agency
- service
- desk
Origin of the word bureau
From etymonline on bureau:
1690s, “desk with drawers for papers, writing desk,” from French bureau (plural bureaux) “office; desk, writing table”. Also from etymonline: “Bureau desks being the common furniture of offices, the meaning expanded by 1720 to “office or place where business is transacted,” and by 1796 to “division of a government.”
Read more about nouns
| Types of nouns | What’s the plural of …? |
|---|---|
| plural-only nouns | …moose? |
| mass nouns | …octopus? |
| collective nouns | …cactus? |
| abstract nouns vs. concrete nouns | …analysis? |
| possessive nouns | …curriculum? |
| regular and irregular nouns | …crisis? |
Work Sheet
According to the blog post, which of the following is a correct plural form of “bureau”?
Based on the study tip provided, which plural form is often associated with antique furniture?
Which of the following sentences uses a plural form of “bureau” correctly, according to the examples?
The word “bureau” in its singular form can refer to:
Which of the following is the singular form discussed in the post?
The government established several new to handle specific public services.
Antique from the 18th century are highly valued by collectors.
She works at the local of motor vehicles.
Replacing the incorrect word, “She manages three different within the large organization.” should use a plural form.
The word “bureau” is originally from .
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the plural of bureau?
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Are there two plurals for bureau?
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When to use bureaus vs bureaux?
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Is bureau a plural word?
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Common mistakes with bureau plural?
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Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Bureau?." Grammarflex, Jun 5, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-bureau/.
Sources
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Definition of bureau.
