Have you ever come across the word beau and wondered how to make it plural? Maybe you saw it in a novel, heard it in a movie, or stumbled upon it while learning English. At first glance, it doesn’t look like an everyday English word, and that’s because it isn’t originally English it comes from French. Words like this often confuse learners and even native speakers. Should the plural be beaus or beaux? Which one is correct?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone in asking this question. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the plural of beau, explain why it has more than one form, and share examples that make it easy to understand. By the end, you’ll feel confident using beau in both singular and plural forms, whether you’re writing, speaking, or just reading.
Let’s start by breaking it down step by step.
What Does Beau Mean?
Before we talk about plurals, let’s be clear about the meaning of the word itself.
The word beau is used to describe:
- A boyfriend or male admirer.
- A man who is a suitor, especially in older or formal usage.
- A fashionable man, sometimes referred to as a “dandy.”
For example:
- “She went to the party with her beau.”
- “In old novels, young women often have many beaux competing for their attention.”
So, simply put, beau means a male partner, admirer, or someone who pays romantic attention to another.
What Is the Plural of Beau?
Here’s the short answer: the correct plural form of beau can be either beaus or beaux — both are dictionary-recognized spellings.
Both forms are correct. But there’s a small twist:
- Beaus is the anglicized (English-adapted) plural form.
- Beaux is the original French plural form.
This means you can choose which one to use, but the choice often depends on context and personal preference.
Which Plural Is More Common?
In everyday modern English, beaus is the preferred plural. Usage data shows it’s the more common choice — it’s simple, follows standard English rules, and feels natural to most speakers.
Example:
- “The sisters introduced their beaus to the family.”
However, in more formal or literary writing, beaux sometimes appears. This version keeps the French spelling and has a slightly old-fashioned, elegant feel.
Example:
- “She charmed all her beaux at the evening ball.”
So both forms work. If you want to sound modern and casual, go with beaus. If you’re writing something poetic or historical, beaux might fit better.
Why Does Beau Have Two Plurals?
The reason is simple: Beau is borrowed from French. In French, the plural of beau is beaux. When English adopted the word, it eventually created its own plural beaus to match regular English patterns.
It’s a classic case of an acceptable plural living alongside the preferred plural, and the same thing happens with other borrowed words:
- Cactus → cacti (Latin plural) or cactuses (English plural).
- Octopus → octopuses (English plural) or octopi (Latin-style plural).
- Beau → beaux (French plural) or beaus (English plural).
So the two plural options exist because English is flexible and often allows both the original foreign plural and a simplified English one.
Is Beau Singular or Plural?
Good question! When it comes to singular vs plural, beau is always the singular form. It refers to one man, admirer, or suitor.
For example:
- “My friend has a new beau.” (singular)
- “Her beaus are waiting outside.” (plural)
The ending “-eau” may confuse learners because it looks different from typical English words, but remember: beau by itself always means just one.
Examples of Beau in Sentences
Let’s look at some practical example sentences — usage in sentences covering both singular and plural forms.
Singular Examples:
- “She was excited to introduce her beau to her parents.”
- “The young beau bought flowers for his date.”
- “He was considered the beau of the season.”
Plural with Beaus:
- “All the sisters brought their beaus to the family dinner.”
- “The girls giggled as their beaus walked them home.”
- “She enjoyed the company of her beaus, each trying to impress her.”
Plural with Beaux:
- “At the ball, the beaux gathered around the fashionable ladies.”
- “Her beaux showered her with gifts.”
- “In Victorian novels, heroines often had many beaux competing for their attention.”
Notice how beaux feels a little more old-fashioned and formal, while beaus sounds more modern and casual.
Comparing Beau to Similar Words
To make this easier, let’s compare beau with some other words that work in similar ways.
- Piano – Another borrowed word, but its plural is simply pianos (not piani).
- Bravo – Its plural can be bravos (English) or bravi (Italian).
- Café – Borrowed from French, but in English, the plural is cafés (not cafés in French spelling).
This shows that English often gives you options: keep the foreign plural or use an English one. With beau, you get beaux (French) or beaus (English).
Where Does the Word Beau Come From?
Here’s a fun fact: Beau is straight from French, where it means “handsome” or “beautiful.”
- In French, beau is the masculine form of “beautiful.”
- The plural form in French is beaux.
When the word came into English, it shifted to mean not just “handsome” but specifically a handsome man, suitor, or admirer. That’s why in older English literature, you’ll often see women being described as having many beaux.
Fun Facts About the Word Beau
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, a “beau” wasn’t just a boyfriend it often meant a fashionable, elegant man. These men cared a lot about style and appearance, similar to what we might now call a “dandy.”
- One famous historical figure was Beau Brummell, an English fashion icon of the Regency era. He set trends for men’s clothing that influenced fashion for generations.
- The word beau can sometimes be used in a light or humorous way, like when teasing someone about their boyfriend: “So, when do we get to meet your beau?”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Because beau looks unusual, learners sometimes make mistakes. Here are a few incorrect forms and errors to watch out for:
- Adding “s” in the wrong place.
Wrong: beauses
Correct: beaus or beaux - Confusing singular and plural.
Wrong: “He is her beaux.”
Correct: “He is her beau.” - Mixing spelling styles in one text.
It’s better to stick with one plural form throughout your writing. If you start with beaus, use beaus consistently.
Tips for Choosing Between Beaus and Beaux
So, which should you use? Here are some tips:
- Use beaus if you’re writing casually, in everyday English, or for modern readers.
- Use beaux if you want a formal, literary, or historical feel.
- Remember that both are correct, so you won’t be “wrong” no matter which you choose.
Think of it like picking between two outfits — a quick mnemonic: beaus for everyday, beaux for elegance.
Practice Time: Fill-in-the-Blank Examples
Try these for yourself:
- She introduced her new ___ to the family.
(Answer: beau) - The young woman had three ___ waiting at her door.
(Answer: beaus or beaux) - The novel describes the many ___ who admired her beauty.
(Answer: beaux or beaus)
Extra Note: Collective Ideas
Even though beau refers to a single admirer, when used in plural (beaus/beaux), it often suggests a group of suitors. This makes it useful in storytelling, especially in old-fashioned or romantic contexts.
For example:
- “Her beaus lined up to dance with her.”
- “She had so many beaux that the neighbors gossiped about it.”
Conclusion
So, what have we learned? The plural of beau can be either beaus or beaux. Both are correct, but beaus is more common in modern English, while beaux feels more formal and old-fashioned.
Here’s the simple takeaway:
- Beau = singular (one admirer or suitor).
- Beaus = plural, modern English.
- Beaux = plural, French spelling, formal or literary.
Next time you come across this word, you won’t have to pause and wonder. You’ll know exactly how to use it, whether you’re chatting casually, writing a story, or diving into an old classic novel.
Now that you understand the plural of beau, you can impress not just with your vocabulary, but also with your confidence in using a word that has both elegance and history. After all, knowing these little language details makes English learning more fun and that’s what it’s all about!
How to Pronounce the Plural of Beau: A Simple Guide
The spelling can be misleading, so let’s get the sounds right. The singular beau is pronounced “boh” (IPA: /boʊ/), rhyming with “go” and “show”. The French plural beaux is pronounced “bohz” (IPA: /boʊz/) — the x makes a z sound, and it rhymes with “rose” and “goes”. The English plural beaus is pronounced exactly the same: “bohz” (IPA: /boʊz/).
So both plurals sound identical — only the spelling differs. A helpful practice tip: say the pair out loud, “one beau, two beaux”, and listen for the buzzing z that appears in the plural. Once your ear catches that ending, you’ll read beaux in novels without hesitation and say it with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plural of beau?
Both beaus and beaux are correct plural forms of beau. They are dictionary-recognized spellings, so you can’t go wrong with either — the choice depends on tone. Use beaus for modern, casual writing and beaux for formal or literary contexts.
Is “beaus” a real word?
Yes, “beaus” is a real word. Merriam-Webster lists beaux (the original French plural) and beaus (the anglicized plural) as the two accepted plurals of beau. It’s not a misspelling — it’s the regular English way of forming the plural.
How do you pronounce the plural of beau?
Both plurals are pronounced the same: “bohz” (IPA: /boʊz/), rhyming with “rose” and “goes”. The singular beau is pronounced “boh” (IPA: /boʊ/), rhyming with “go”. The only difference between the two plurals is the spelling.
What’s the difference between beaus and beaux?
They mean exactly the same thing — there’s no difference in meaning. Beaus is the anglicized plural and sounds modern and casual; beaux is the French plural and feels formal, literary, or old-fashioned. The one rule: pick one spelling and use it consistently within a single piece of writing.
What other words follow the same plural rule as beau?
Beau isn’t alone — other French borrowings keep a French plural alongside an English one: bureau → bureaux or bureaus, plateau → plateaux or plateaus, and château → châteaux or châteaus. In each case, the -s version is the modern English choice and the -x version keeps the French flavor.
