139 - How to Pronounce ‘Plus’ in French

 
Hello everyone! Welcome back to the French Made Easy podcast! This is episode number 139, numéro 139.
 
In this episode, I’m going to teach you how to pronounce the word 'plus' in French. The final ‘s’ in that word often creates some confusion, because sometimes it is silent, and sometimes it is pronounced, all depending on the context.
 
As usual, before we start our lesson, if you're new to the podcast, welcome! Make sure you have your lesson's cheat sheet in front of you, so you can listen to the words and see how they are written. And when you finish this lesson, you can head over to the French Made Easy Exercise Library to download your lesson's exercises and practice what you've learned today. You'll find all the download links in the episode notes on your podcast platform.
 
So let’s get started. I’m first going to teach you in which contexts the ‘s’ is silent, and then I’ll teach you in which contexts the 's' is pronounced.
 
When the "S" is Always Silent [ply]

❌ In Negative Sentences with "ne… plus" (before a consonant)
 
When you have “ne… plus” in negative sentences, those 2 little words means "no more," "no longer," "neither," or "not anymore." And the "s" is always silent. So in negative sentences, basically always pronounce ‘plus’ [ply.]
 

• "Nous ne regardons plus la télévision." (We don't watch TV anymore.)
• "Il n'y a plus de pain." (There is no more bread.)
• "Je n'en veux plus." (I don't want it anymore, or anymore of it)

❌ In Comparisons with Adjectives or Adverbs (before a consonant)
 
So when "plus" is used in comparisons involving an adjective or adverb, the "s" is always silent.
 

• "Il est plus grand que sa sœur." (He is taller than his sister.) That’s a comparison with an adjective.
• "Elle court plus vite que moi." (She runs faster than me.) That’s a comparison with an adverb.

Note:
 
In those 2 cases (in negative sentences and in comparisons with adjectives and adverbs) I’ve been saying, that’s only if the word ‘plus’ is followed by a consonant. Now what happens if "plus" is followed by a vowel? A liaison with the sound [z] will happen.
 
For example:
 

• "Elle est plus âgée que lui." (She is older than him.) In this sentence, ‘plus’ is followed by a vowel, the vowel ‘a’. Therefore, a liaison is happening between the word ‘plus and the word ‘âgée’. So my ‘s’ from the word ‘plus’ is still silent, but now I’m adding the sound [z] , from ‘zebra’, in between the two words.
• "Ce livre est plus intéressant." (This book is more interesting.) In this sentence, ‘plus’ is followed by a vowel, the vowel ‘i’. Therefore, a liaison is happening between the word ‘plus and the word ‘intéressant’. So my ‘s’ from the word ‘plus’ is still silent, but now I’m adding the sound [z] in between the two words.

Attention, I’m repeating it, but it still means that the "s" from "plus" is silent! We’re still NOT pronouncing the sound [s], from ‘snake’ here. The liaison adds the sound [z] (for zero or zebra) between the words "plus" and the following word starting with a vowel. So it’s a different sound than [s] (for snake)
 

• "Elle est plus âgée que lui." (She is older than him.) Notice that I’m not saying…
• "Ce livre est plus intéressant." (This book is more interesting.) Notice that I’m not saying…

Alright, so I hope that makes sense regarding that note on the liaison. But you’ll find more on the liaison inside my pronunciation course for beginners, French Pronunciation Made Easy.
 
When the "S" is Pronounced [plys]

✅ When "Plus" means "More"
 
Whether at the end of a sentence or in the middle, when "plus" means "more," the "s" is pronounced.
 

• "Ajoute plus de sel." (Add more salt.)
• "Mets plus de sucre dans le café." (Put more sugar in the coffee.)
• "J'en veux plus." (I want more.)

✅ When Adding Numbers
 
In mathematical expressions or when counting, the "s" is pronounced.
 

• "Deux plus trois égalent cinq." (Two plus three equals five.)
• "Quatre plus quatre font huit." (Four plus four equals eight.)

✅ In Comparisons with Verbs
 
When "plus" is used in comparisons involving verbs, the "s" is pronounced.
 

• "Ils voyagent plus que nous." (They travel more than us.)
• "Elle travaille plus que lui." (She works more than him.)

✅ In Expressions "De Plus" or "En Plus"
 
In those 2 expressions, the "s" is pronounced.
 

• "En plus, je suis fatigué." (Moreover, I am tired.)
• "De plus, il fait beau aujourd'hui." (Moreover, the weather is nice today.)

Now, lets do a quick recap’
 

The word ‘plus’ is pronounced [ply]:

 
❌ In Negative Sentences with "ne… plus" (before a consonant)
 

• "Nous ne regardons plus la télévision." (We don't watch TV anymore.)

❌ In Comparisons with Adjectives or Adverbs (before a consonant)
 

• "Il est plus grand que sa sœur." (He is taller than his sister.) That’s a comparison with an adjective.

Note: In these 2 cases, when 'plus' is followed by a vowel, a liaison [z] occurs. For example:
 

• "Elle est plus âgée que lui." (She is older than him.)

The word ‘plus’ is pronounced [plys]:
 
✅ When "Plus" means "More"
 

• "Ajoute plus de sel." (Add more salt.)

✅ When Adding Numbers
 

• "Deux plus trois égalent cinq." (Two plus three equals five.)

✅ In Comparisons with Verbs
 

• "Ils voyagent plus que nous." (They travel more than us.)

✅ In Expressions "De Plus" or "En Plus"
 

• "En plus, je suis fatigué." (Moreover, I am tired.)

Et voilà! I hope you enjoyed this episode! Now you know when to say [plus] and when to say [ply]! À la semaine prochaine!