When to Pronounce the S in French Plus: Rules and Examples
The pronunciation of the French word “plus” often confuses learners, particularly regarding the elusive “s” at its end. Let’s clarify the enigma surrounding when to pronounce S in the French word PLUS in my short video lesson, and you can download a free lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
All you need are five simple rules, and you’ll never need to wonder again! Did you know that you can be completely misunderstood if you pronounce (or don’t pronounce) the S in PLUS?
Find out what the rules are in my video, or scroll down to see them and to read some examples.
When Do You Pronounce the S in French Plus?
There are three possible pronunciations of plus in French:
- /ply/ – The final S is silent.
- /plys/ – The final S is pronounced like an S.
- /plyz/ – The final S is pronounced like a Z because of liaison.
Here are the main rules to remember:
| When to use it | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In negative constructions with ne…plus, meaning no longer or no more | Silent S /ply/ | Je n’ai plus de lait. (I don’t have any milk left.) |
| In comparative constructions before an adjective beginning with a consonant | Silent S /ply/ | Elle est plus petite que moi. (She is shorter than me.) |
| Before an adjective beginning with a vowel when liaison is made | S sounds like Z /plyz/ | C’est la plus ancienne ville. (It’s the oldest city.) |
| In plus de meaning more | Pronounced S /plys/ | Il y a plus de biscuits. (There are more cookies.) |
| When plus stands alone and means more | Pronounced S /plys/ | J’en voudrais plus. (I’d like more.) |
The pronunciation of plus de depends on its meaning. When it means more, pronounce the S. When it means no more, the S is silent.
- Il y a plus de pain. (There is more bread.) — /plys/
- Il n’y a plus de pain. (There is no more bread.) — /ply/
1. Do Not Pronounce the S in Ne…Plus
When plus is used in the negative construction ne…plus, meaning no longer or no more, the final S is generally silent.
Examples:
- Je ne travaille plus ici.
- I don’t work here anymore.
- Il n’y a plus de lait.
- There is no more milk.
- Elle ne veut plus sortir.
- She doesn’t want to go out anymore.
Remember that ne…plus expresses a change in situation. Something happened before, but it doesn’t happen anymore.
If you want to review other French negative expressions, see my lesson on French negation.
2. Do Not Pronounce the S Before an Adjective Beginning with a Consonant
When plus is used to make a comparison and is followed by an adjective beginning with a consonant, the final S is silent.
Examples:
- Jeanne est plus petite que sa maman.
- Jeanne is shorter than her mom.
- Ce restaurant est plus cher que l’autre.
- This restaurant is more expensive than the other one.
- Il est plus grand que son frère.
- He is taller than his brother.
3. Pronounce the S Like a Z Before an Adjective Beginning with a Vowel
When plus is followed by an adjective beginning with a vowel, a liaison is made in standard pronunciation. The final S sounds like a Z.
Examples:
- C’est plus intéressant.
- It’s more interesting.
- Elle est plus intelligente que moi.
- She is more intelligent than I am.
- Béziers est la plus ancienne ville de France.
- Béziers is the oldest city in France.
Notice that the S isn’t pronounced like an S here. It connects to the following vowel and sounds like a Z.
4. Pronounce the S in Plus de When It Means More
When plus de means more of something, pronounce the final S in plus.
Examples:
- Il y a plus de biscuits dans le placard.
- There are more cookies in the pantry.
- Je voudrais plus de temps.
- I would like more time.
- Nous avons besoin de plus d’informations.
- We need more information.
Be careful! When plus de means no more, as in a negative construction, the S is silent.
- Il n’y a plus de biscuits.
- There are no more cookies.
5. Pronounce the S When Plus Means More and Stands Alone
When plus appears at the end of a sentence or stands alone and means more, pronounce the final S.
Examples:
- Tu en veux plus ?
- Do you want more?
- Je peux en avoir plus ?
- Can I have some more?
- J’en voudrais plus.
- I’d like more.
Compare this with the negative:
- J’en veux plus. (I want more.) — pronounce S.
- Je n’en veux plus. (I don’t want any more.) — silent S.
The meaning of the sentence determines the pronunciation.
Plus Means More or No More: Why Pronunciation Matters
One of the most important distinctions to understand is the difference between plus meaning more and plus meaning no more.
Listen to these two sentences:
- J’ai plus de travail. (I have more work.) — pronounce the S.
- Je n’ai plus de travail. (I don’t have any more work.) — do not pronounce the S.
The written word is exactly the same, but the pronunciation changes depending on whether the sentence is affirmative or negative.
In everyday spoken French, ne is frequently dropped in negative sentences. This means context becomes especially important.
For example, J’en veux plus can mean either “I want more” or “I don’t want any more,” depending on the intended meaning and context. The pronunciation of plus and the surrounding conversation help distinguish the two.
