GENERAL INFO

Tous means "all" or "every." It is a masculine plural determiner (e.g., *tous les garçons* - all the boys) or a pronoun (e.g., *Ils sont tous venus* - They all came).

USAGE

As a determiner, it precedes a plural noun, often with *les*: *tous les films* (all the films). As a pronoun, it replaces a masculine plural noun: *Nous sommes tous fatigués* (We are all tired).

TRAPS

Pronunciation differs: the final 's' is usually silent as a determiner (e.g., *tous les hommes*), but pronounced /s/ as a pronoun (e.g., *nous tous*). Remember its feminine plural is toutes.