What’s the plural of “chateau”?
What’s the correct plural of chateau? As it turns out, chateau accepts both chateaux or chateaus as plural noun forms. A chateau is a country house or manor, and came to English from French. This makes chateau a loanword in English, which are words adopted from other languages and cultures. Other examples of loanwords include café, which is also French, and kindergarden from German (kindergarten which literally translates to children’s garden).
Chateaux is the original French plural noun form. Chateaus as a plural uses the English plural noun rule of adding an s at the end of the word. This plural form likely came be to accepted over time and confusion as to what the correct plural of chateau is
What’s the singular of chateau?
Chateau is singular.
What does chateau mean?
A chateau is understood as “a country house, castle, or manor house, esp in France “.
Other French nouns in English
These English nouns are like chateau and also come from French. Likewise, they each use -aux and -aus as plural noun forms.
| singular | plural |
| bureau | bureaux or bureaus |
| château | châteaux or chateaus |
| beau | beaux or beaus |
| tableau | tableaux or tableaus |
Examples of the word chateau used in sentences
1. Some peasants had brought the news to the chateau, with the additional information that they were all to be shot within two days.
2. We are drawing near the chateau, and you might as well wear a cockade tricolor as let them hear that.
3. The 14,000-square-foot, French chateau-style home was a five-year project spearheaded by architect Richard Landry.
4. Wharton left Vienna, the morning after his separation from Louis in the garden of the chateau.
5. The couple apparently visited the royal chateau in January when they were scouting locations for the big day.
Examples of chateaux/chateaus used in application
1. Two years ago I wrote up the legendary 2010 Bordeaux, covering about 75 of the best-known chateaus.
2. Think sculptures of female nudes made of bullet casings, fake French chateaus and house prices that exceed $100 million.
3. We’ve rounded up a list of the best and most beautiful châteaux in France! Classical French architecture, gorgeous gardens and fairytale magic is waiting for you in these beautiful spots…(10 of the most beautiful châteaux in France, Tina Burke).
4. “Our route follows the Euro Velo 6 route, but we have added little detours, such as to markets or chateaux.” (Lincolnshire Echo)
5. He is married to his childhood sweetheart (Rachel McAdams), and they live with their daughter in a mansion bigger than most Loire chateaux. (The Economist)
Origin of the word chateau
From etymology online on chateau (n.):
Large stately residence in the country, manor-house,” c. 1739, from French château, from Old French chastel (12c.), from Latin castellum “castle”.
What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?
Sources
- Definition of chateau.
- Sentences using chateau.
- Origin of chateau.
