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What’s the Plural of Beau? Beaus or Beaux?

Beaus and beaux are both accepted plurals for beau.



What’s the plural of “beau”?

The plural of beau is beaux or beaus. Beau is originally a French word, and the plural beaux is the original French plural form. Beaux is irregular in English, as it doesn’t end in –s/-es. Beaus is a regular plural noun form, and has come to be accepted as a plural noun form of beau.

What’s the singular of beau?

Beau is singular.

What does the word “beau” mean?

A beau is understood in English as a “male sweetheart, boyfriend or lover” or “a frequent and attentive male escort for a girl or woman.”

Other French words in English


singularplural
bureaubureaux or bureaus
châteauchâteaux or chateaus
beaubeaux or beaus
tableautableaux or tableaus



Examples of the word beau used in sentences

The following sentences show the correct use of the word beau in context:

1. Your new beau speaks three languages.

2. That proved to be true for star chef, Cutthroat Kitchen champion and Just Savor founder Chef Huda, and her beau, IT exec and former winery owner Lamar.

3. Things seem to be going well until her new beau refuses to take her home.

4. As she juggles two jobs, moving in with her beau, and the continued draw of alcohol, Cassie seems to be spiraling out of control all over again.

5. Whatever the reason, Burton was committed enough to leave tiny Bunker Hill to seek out her beau.

Examples of beaus/beaux used in application

The following sentences show the correct use of the plural noun, beaus/beaux in sentences:

1. She’s been married twice and, in her own words, has had “lots of beaus.”

2. “And had you a great many smart beaux there? ”

3. In the front rank of the railway service I do not remember many beaux.

4. “Oh, they are talking of their favourite beaux, I dare say.”

5. Both the young girls were dressed in their best; for they were going to a quilting-party, where they expected to meet many beaux.

Origin of the word beau

According to Etymology Online, the word beau (n.) comes from:

Attendant suitor of a lady,” 1720, from French beau “the beautiful,” noun use of an adjective, from Old French bel “beautiful, handsome, fair, genuine, real” (11c.), from Latin bellus “handsome, fine, pretty, agreeable” (see belle).

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Read more about nouns

Types of nounsWhat’s the plural of …?
plural-only nounsmoose?
mass nounsoctopus?
collective nounscactus?
abstract nouns vs. concrete nounsanalysis?
possessive nounscurriculum?
regular and irregular nounscrisis?

Sources

  1. Definition of beau.
  2. Sentences using beau.
  3. Origin of beau.


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