Both plurals of “beau” are correct, so the real mistake is thinking only one of them is allowed. In the Beaus vs Beaux question, beaus is the regular English plural and beaux is the original French plural. Most writers can choose beaus and be safe.
This guide explains what “beau” means, where it comes from, and how each plural is pronounced. You will also see how Beaus vs Beaux works in real sentences, which mistakes to avoid, and which form suits your writing.
Beaus vs Beaux: Quick Answer
Both beaus and beaux are correct plurals of “beau.” Beaus follows the normal English rule of adding -s. Beaux keeps the French spelling. Neither is a spelling error.
Example: “Her beaus sent flowers every week.” This is just as correct as “Her beaux sent flowers every week.”
The Rule You Should Remember
Use beaus by default. Use beaux when you want a French, formal or old-fashioned feel. Whichever you choose, stay with it.
Can You Use Either Form?
Yes. Dictionaries list both. The only condition is consistency. Do not write beaus in one paragraph and beaux in the next.
What Does “Beau” Mean?
“Beau” is a noun for a man who is romantically interested in someone. It can also mean a man who cares a great deal about fashion.
Dictionary Definition
Dictionaries usually give two senses:
- A boyfriend, a suitor or a male admirer.
- A dandy, meaning a man who is very fond of fine clothes and style.
The Origin of “Beau”
English borrowed “beau” from French, where it means handsome or beautiful. The French word comes from the Latin bellus, which means pretty or fine.
How the Meaning Changed
In French, “beau” is an adjective. In English, it became a noun. It first described a fashionable, well-dressed man. Over time it shifted toward the romantic sense we know today: the man who admires or courts a woman.
Modern Uses of “Beau”
Today the word sounds warm, playful or a little old-fashioned. You may hear it in casual speech, in some regional dialects, and in fiction. In a very formal report, boyfriend or partner may fit better.
What Is the Correct Spelling of “Beaus vs Beaux”?
The correct spellings are beaus and beaux. Beaus vs Beaux is not a right-and-wrong pair. It is a choice between two accepted plurals.
These forms are not correct:
- beau’s (an apostrophe makes it a possessive, not a plural)
- beauxs (the French ending already has an x, so adding -s is wrong)
- beauses (no standard dictionary lists this)
Beau Meaning in Love
In romance, a beau is a man someone is dating or courting. The word suggests charm and affection.
She introduced her beau to the family at dinner.
It can feel sweeter or more traditional than boyfriend. Some people now use it playfully for a partner of any gender, but traditional dictionary definitions describe a man.
Is the Plural “Beaus” or “Beaux”?
It can be either one. The reason is history.
Why Two Plurals Exist
English words normally add -s. French words ending in -eau add -x. When English borrowed “beau,” both habits came with it.
Why “Beaus” Is More Common Today
Beaus follows the rule English speakers already know. It looks familiar, reads easily and needs no explanation. For many modern writers, it is the natural choice.
Why Some Writers Prefer “Beaux”
Beaux looks traditional and a little elegant. Writers choose it to match older texts, to suit a historical setting or to keep the French feel.
Are Both Accepted by Dictionaries?
Yes. Major dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, Oxford and Collins, list both plurals. If you want to check the current entry, look up “beau” in the dictionary your school, publisher or employer prefers.
What’s the Difference Between Beau and Beaux?
Beau is singular. Beaux is one of its plurals.
- One beau = one admirer.
- Two beaux or two beaus = two admirers.
Learners often think beau and beaux are two competing spellings. They are not. They are different numbers of the same word.
Beaus vs Beaux: Side-by-Side Comparison
At a Glance
| Feature | Beaus | Beaux |
| Type | Regular English plural | French-style plural |
| Accepted? | Yes | Yes |
| Tone | Neutral, modern | Traditional, literary |
| Best for | Everyday, professional, academic writing | Historical or literary writing |
| Pronunciation | /boʊz/ | /boʊz/ (same in English) |
Looking at Beaus vs Beaux this way, the only practical difference is spelling and tone, not meaning.
When to Use “Beaus”
Use “Beaus” in Everyday Writing
Emails, blog posts, messages and social media all suit beaus. It looks natural and nobody will question it.
Use “Beaus” in Professional Communication
In business or journalism, plain wording works best. Beaus is easy to read and needs no explanation.
Use “Beaus” in Academic Writing
Either plural is acceptable in essays. Beaus is a clear choice unless your instructor or style guide says otherwise.
Examples Using “Beaus”
- The novel follows a young woman and her three beaus.
- Both of her beaus came to the school dance.
- The beaus of the town gathered at the harbor.
Also, read this: Lyed or Lied:
A Helpful Tip
If you are unsure, pick beaus. It matches the usual English pattern, so it is hard to get wrong.
Is There a Girl Version of Beau?
The closest word is belle. It is the French feminine form of “beau,” and English uses it for a beautiful woman.
She was the belle of the ball.
But “belle” is not an exact match. It describes beauty and does not mean a girlfriend. English has no standard word that means “female beau” in the romantic sense. The plural of belle is belles.
When to Use “Beaux”
Use “Beaux” in Literary Writing
Poets and novelists may prefer beaux for its rhythm and old-world sound.
Use “Beaux” in Historical Contexts
When writing about the 1700s or 1800s, beaux can match the period feel.
Use “Beaux” When Highlighting French Influence
If your text already has French elements, beaux fits the setting. A well-known example is Beaux-Arts, the name of a French architecture style.
Examples Using “Beaux”
- The ballroom filled with fashionable beaux and their dancing partners.
- Her beaux wrote her long letters from abroad.
- The story mocks the vain beaux of the royal court.
Should You Use “Beaux” in Everyday Writing?
You can, but it may look formal to some readers. If your audience is general, beaus usually reads more smoothly.
Beau in French Masculine
In French, “beau” is a masculine adjective meaning handsome or beautiful. It changes form depending on the noun:
| Form | When used | Example |
| beau | masculine singular | un beau garçon |
| bel | masculine singular before a vowel | un bel homme |
| belle | feminine singular | une belle femme |
| beaux | masculine plural | de beaux garçons |
| belles | feminine plural | de belles femmes |
So the x in beaux comes from French grammar. In French it is a regular plural marker for words like this.
Why English Has Two Plurals
How Loanwords Change Over Time
When English borrows a word, speakers first copy the foreign plural. Over time, many start using the English -s pattern instead.
Regularized Plurals vs Traditional Plurals
Beaus is the regularized plural. Beaux is the traditional one. Regularization is common in English. Many borrowed words ended up this way.
Why Both Forms Continue to Exist
Writers keep using beaux because it carries history and style. Others use beaus because it is simple. Dictionaries record both because both are in real use.
Language Evolves Through Usage
Rules in English follow how people write and speak. As habits shift, dictionaries update. That is why one word can have two accepted forms.
Pronunciation Guide
How to Pronounce “Beau”
Say boh. It rhymes with go and low.
How to Pronounce “Beaus”
Say bohz. The ending sounds like the z in rose.
How to Pronounce “Beaux”
In English, most speakers also say bohz. In French, the x is silent and the word sounds like boh. Some English speakers use the French sound when they want to sound French, but bohz is the common English pronunciation.
Do Native Speakers Hear a Difference?
Usually not. In everyday English speech, beaus and beaux sound the same. The difference appears only in writing.
Quick Pronunciation Table
| Word | Common English sound |
| beau | boh |
| beaus | bohz |
| beaux | bohz (French: boh) |
Example Sentences
Examples Using “Beaus”
- Three beaus waited for her at the door.
- The old movie shows a girl choosing between two beaus.
Examples Using “Beaux”
- The beaux of the era wore powdered wigs.
- The play pokes fun at the foolish beaux of Paris.
Comparing the Two
Her beaus were kind. and Her beaux were kind. mean the same thing. The only change is spelling style. Think of Beaus vs Beaux as a style choice, like choosing between two accepted spellings of a word.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming Only One Form Is Correct
Incorrect: “Beaux is wrong; you must write beaus.”
Correct: Both are accepted.
Why: Dictionaries list both plurals.
Changing Forms Within the Same Piece
Incorrect: Her beaus arrived early. Later, the beaux left together.
Correct: Her beaus arrived early. Later, the beaus left together.
Why: Mixing forms in one text looks careless.
Using “Beaux” Only to Sound More Sophisticated
Choosing beaux because it looks fancy can backfire. If your audience is general, beaus may read better. Choose it for a reason, such as setting or style.
Confusing Spelling With Pronunciation
Incorrect: Saying “bow-ks” for beaux.
Correct: Say “bohz.”
Why: The x in beaux is not pronounced like x in English.
Two other spelling errors to avoid:
Incorrect: She had many beau’s.
Correct: She had many beaus.
Why: An apostrophe is not used to form a plural.
Incorrect: beauxs
Correct: beaux
Why: The x already marks the plural.
Forgetting Your Audience
A university style guide, a publisher or an editor may prefer one form. Check if there are house rules before you decide.
Similar French Words With Two Accepted Plurals
Many French loanwords ending in -eau have both an English plural and a French one:
| Singular | English plural | French-style plural |
| bureau | bureaus | bureaux |
| plateau | plateaus | plateaux |
| tableau | tableaus | tableaux |
| chateau | chateaus | chateaux |
| portmanteau | portmanteaus | portmanteaux |
A Simple Pattern to Remember
For many words ending in -eau, you can add -s or -x. The -s version is the English choice. The -x version is the French one. Beau follows the same pattern. Some words in this group lean one way in common use, so check a dictionary for each.
Beaus vs Beaux in Style Guides and Dictionaries
How Major Dictionaries Treat the Two Plurals
Merriam-Webster, Oxford and Collins all record both forms. That is the best evidence that neither is an error.
Editorial Preferences
Individual publishers and editors may have a preferred form. If you write for a publication, check its style sheet. Without one, being consistent is the safest rule in Beaus vs Beaux.
Academic and Professional Writing
Teachers and managers rarely mind either plural. What they notice is inconsistency and errors such as beau’s or beauxs.
Which Form Should Most Writers Use?
Most writers can use beaus. Use beaux when your topic, tone or style guide calls for it.
Beaus vs Beaux: A Quick Decision Guide
Ask yourself:
- Is this everyday, professional or academic writing? → beaus
- Is it historical, literary or French in tone? → beaux
- Does a style guide say otherwise? → follow the guide
- Not sure? → beaus
- Whatever you pick, stay consistent.
Conclusion
Both plurals are correct, so Beaus vs Beaux is a style choice and not a spelling test. Beaus is the regular English plural, and beaux is the French one. Use beaus for most writing and keep beaux for historical, literary or French-flavored text.
Before you publish, check that you used one form throughout and avoided beau’s and beauxs. If you remember one thing about Beaus vs Beaux, make it this: choose with purpose and be consistent.
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