Votre vs Vos: Master French Possessive Adjectives in 60 Seconds
Votre is singular “your” for one owner and one item; vos is plural “your” for any owner facing multiple items.
People blur the two because English lumps both into “your.” A waiter might see one couple and say “Vos entrées sont prêtes,” forgetting that even two guests still share one order each—so it’s votre entrée, singular.
Key Differences
Votre pairs with singular nouns: votre clé, votre maison. Vos pairs with plural nouns: vos clés, vos maisons. The noun decides, not the number of owners.
Examples and Daily Life
WhatsApp message: “J’ai oublié votre adresse” (one address). At a café: “Voici vos cafés” (two cups). CEO email: “Merci pour votre feedback” (collective singular).
Can I ever use vos with a singular noun?
No. Vos always requires a plural noun; use votre for singular.
What if two people own one car?
Still votre voiture—one car, singular noun.
Is there a plural polite “your” in French?
No. Votre and vos already serve as polite singular and plural forms.