Why feu d’artifice? I see feux d’artifice used in multiple examples.

Charles H.C1Kwiziq community member

Why feu d’artifice? I see feux d’artifice used in multiple examples.

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Charles, 

Le Feu d'Artifice is the actual event, in singular form -

Ce soir, il y a un feu d'artifice à Versailles = Tonight, there is a fireworks display in Versailles

Les feux d'artifice, in the plural, are the actual fireworks you can buy. 

Bonne Continuation!

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Singular (display) of fireworks - feu d'artifice; plural (displays) of fireworks - feux d'artifice eg les feux d'artifice du 14 Juillet. 

From Robert dico en ligne:

Feu d'artifice : explosifs à effet lumineux qu'on fait brûler pour une fête en plein air. ➙ pyrotechnie. Les feux d'artifice du 14 Juillet. —  AU FIGURÉCe qui éblouit par le nombre et la rapidité des images ou des traits brillants.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Seems like there may be disagreements about the meanings.  Robert above, Cambridge here seem generally consistent with each other, although a number of other references do not seem to make a distinction and a number do not identify feux d'artifice as an option:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/french-english/feu-d-artifice?q=feu+d%27artifice

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/french-english/feux-d-artifice

Charles H. asked:

Why feu d’artifice? I see feux d’artifice used in multiple examples.

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