French Words Ending in -eau: Bureaux or Bureaus?
Quick Answer
Words English borrowed from French ending in -eau can add a silent -x: one bureau, two bureaux. Adding a normal -s is also correct, and more common in everyday English. The -x is silent either way.
See the Pattern First
Both endings are accepted. Listen — they sound identical.
- One bureau, two bureaux — or bureaus.
- One chateau, two chateaux — the French form is usual for castles.
- One tableau, two tableaux — normal in theatre and art.
- One beau, two beaux — an old word for a boyfriend.
The important thing: you never pronounce the x. “Bureaux” and “bureaus” sound exactly the same. The choice only matters in writing.
The Full List — Only 4 Words
This is a small, closed group. No new words join it.
| One | Many | One | Many |
|---|---|---|---|
| beau | beaux | bureau | bureaux / bureaus |
| chateau | chateaux / chateaus | tableau | tableaux |
These come up often, so they have their own full lesson with more practice: the plural of tableau.
Which Should You Write?
If you are writing about France, art, or history — castles, theatre scenes — use the -x form. It matches the subject and looks right to readers who know the field.
For an ordinary office bureau or a chest of drawers, -s is perfectly good English. American writing prefers “bureaus” almost always; British writing keeps “bureaux” more often.
Both are right. The x is always silent.
A Word You Already Know
You have met this ending before without noticing:
- Gateau (a rich cake) becomes gateaux — you will see it on menus.
- Plateau becomes plateaux or plateaus — geography books use both.
Once you notice -eau, you will start seeing it everywhere in food and geography words.
Mistakes Learners Make (You Are Not Alone)
Only two things really go wrong here:
- ✗ two bureauxs → ✓ two bureaux (never add -s on top of -x)
- ✗ one bureaux → ✓ one bureau (bureaux is already plural)
- ✗ pronouncing the x → ✓ keeping it silent (say “bureau” the same for one or many)
The double ending — “chateauxs” — is the giveaway. Pick one ending, never both.
Your Turn — Quick Quiz
Five questions. Take your time — the table above is still there if you need it.
1. 1. They visited three ____ in the Loire valley.
2. 2. How do you pronounce the x in “bureaux”?
3. 3. Which sentence is CORRECT?
4. 4. The play ended with two silent ____.
5. 5. In everyday American English, the plural of bureau is usually:
Keep Going
You have now covered every borrowed-plural group in English: Greek, Latin and French.
But some English words are stranger still. You cannot have one scissor. You cannot buy one trouser. Why do some things only exist in the plural?
Next lesson: Nouns that are always plural: scissors, trousers
Sources
I’m Khamis Maiouf. English is not my first language – I learned it as an adult in the UK, passed Functional Skills Level 2 in English, qualified in Hairdressing at Level 3, and I’m now studying Business at university. For over five years I’ve taught ESOL classes in my community and tutored students through GCSE English. I write every lesson on this site myself, for the learner I used to be.
