# plural pipe returns other for zero in french locale

## TL;DR

Fixes French plurals where zero picks 'other' instead of 'one'. French treats 0 as singular; add an explicit zero case or fix the plural rule data. Use when French shows the plural form for zero items. Not for missing plural keys.

## The error

```text
French cart shows the plural form for 0 items where the singular is expected.
```

## Fix it

### Step 1: Check the plural rule for French

```bash
node -e "console.log(new Intl.PluralRules('fr').select(0))"
```

Expected: You see which category French assigns to zero.

### Step 2: Add an explicit zero case to the message

```bash
node -e "console.log('add =0 {no items} to the ICU plural message')"
```

Expected: The message handles zero explicitly.

### Step 3: Render with count zero in French

```bash
node -e "console.log('confirm the zero text shows, not the plural')"
```

Expected: Zero renders the correct French form.

## When to use this

- French zero uses the plural form
- A plural message has no explicit zero case

## When NOT to use this

- The plural key is missing, add the message first
- Zero is wrong in every language, check the count value

## Tool and version compatibility

- Intl.PluralRules
- ICU message format with explicit =0

## Variant phrasings

### zero wrong in Arabic too

Arabic has a dedicated zero form. Add =0 or the zero category explicitly.

### zero correct but one wrong

That language maps 1 to 'other'. Check the CLDR rule for the locale.

## Why it happens

CLDR plural rules differ by language: French groups 0 with 'one', English groups it with 'other'. A message with only one/other cases renders the wrong French form for zero unless you add an explicit =0 case.

## Edge cases

- Explicit =0 overrides the CLDR category, which is usually what you want
- Fractions like 1.5 follow different rules than integers
- Translators must translate the =0 case too, or it falls back

## Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_SIJWZaUm2D8tZFh4NV3GxA