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Nouns in French are divided into two categories. With nouns in the first
category, the word for the is le and for nouns in the second category it is la.
The two categories are generally called masculine and feminine. The
names masculine and feminine are conventional and probably stem from the
fact that some masculine nouns refer to male people or beings, and some
feminine nouns to female people or beings. But in the vast majority of cases,
there is no real relationship between a noun's meaning and its gender.
Consider, for example, that bureau and office can have similar meanings, but
the former is masculine and the latter feminine; or that the noun personne is
feminine but can refer to both men and women.
When you very first start learning French, you'll probably learn whether a noun
is masculine or feminine by learning it with the word le or la: le garon, la
fille etc. Initially, this is probably the most effective way of learning when to
use le and when to use la.
In other words, the answer to our question to start with is "you've just got to
remember!".
-age
-ment
-il, -ail, -eil, -ueil
- (but not -t)
-eau and -ou
-me, -ge
-i, -at, -et and -ot
-er
-oir
-isme
-ing
-ard
Words ending in other consonants (in the spelling).
--
Introduction
French nouns are either Monsieurs or Madams. Interestingly, native
speakers associate masculine qualities with masculine nouns and feminine
qualities with feminine nouns. Ideally, when learning a noun you should
learn its gender as well. A French friend of mine suggested I put skirts on
the feminine objects in the pictorial guide, and maybe a little mustache on
the masculine objects. So far I haven't had time to wrap a skirt around la
banane or put pantyhose on l'araigne, but maybe you can use your imagination.
People nouns
People nouns are generally easy. If a person is a male then the noun is masculine and a
masculine article is used, if the person is female then the noun is feminine and a feminine article
is used.
acrobate
acrobat
comptable
accountant
gosse
kid
adulte
adult
concierge
caretaker
hypocrite
hypocrite
aide
helper
cycliste
cyclist
journaliste
journalist
aristocrate
aristocrat
dentiste
dentist
juge
judge
artiste
artist
lve
student
nationaliste
nationalist
astronaute
astronout
enfant
child
pirate
pirate
bureaucrate
bureaucrat
camarade
comrade
fleuriste
florist
scientifique
scientist
l'employe
la fermire
la cousine
l'anglaise
la championne
l'europenne
la vendeuse
l'actrice
la veuve
employee
farmer
cousin
Englishman/woman
champion
european
salesman/woman
actor/actress
widower/widow
There are people nouns, however, which are always of a particular gender no matter what the sex
of the person.
la vedette
le capitaine
le savant
le mannequin
le clown
le pilot
star (actor/actress)
captain
wise person
fashion model
clown
pilot
Animals
Some animals have both male and female versions.
un homme
un chat
une femme
une chatte
human
cat
un chien
un ours
un rat
un cheval
un taureau
un coq
un renard
une chienne
une ourse
une rate
une jument
une vache
une poule
une renarde
dog
bear
rat
horse
bull/cow
rooster/chicken
fox
Most species of animals are either masculine or feminine and both species of animals are
referred to with the same gender.
le zbre
l'oiseau m.
le hibou
le crapaud
la girafe
l'hutre f.
zebra
bird
owl
toad
giraffe
oyster
Category Gender
Masculine
The following categories of words are almost always masculine.
Monday
Tuesday
Wenesday
Thursday
le vendredi
le samedi
le dimanche
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
le printemps
l't m.
Spring
Summer
l'automne m.
l'hiver m.
Autumn, Fall
Winter
German
Chinese
le franais
l'hindi m.
French
Hindi
Language Names
l'allemand m.
le chinois
le crole
le coren
l'espagnol
Creole
Korean
Spanish
le portugaise
le sudois
Portuguese
Swedish
blue
red
le jaune
le rose
yellow
pink
four
le b
colors
le bleu
le rouge
Metric measures
le gramme
le litre
le mtre
le volt
le joule
le watt
l'hectare
Trees
le chne
le sapin
oak
pine
le bananier
le gruyre
le Saint-Marcelin
le Munster
le roblochon
banana tree
Feminine
The following categories are almost always feminine.
Academic Disciplines
l'astronomie
la chimie
l'informatique
astronomy
chemisry
computer science
la science
l'histoire
l'anthropologie
science
history
anthropology
Cars
une peugeot
la 107
une renault
une citron
la Berlingo
la Twingo
Watches
une casio
une rolex
une swatch
I call this the non sacred rule because it has so many exceptions. While you can't rely
on this rule to determine noun gender on the fly, it can serve as a good starting point
for approaching and learning the gender of nouns. In the following pages, french
nouns are organized by the rule along with exceptions. There are quizzes throughout. I
suggest you alternate between reviewing the tables and taking the quiz until you can
guess the gender of all the nouns.
Consonant Endings
le plomb
lead
le bec
beak
l'chec
failure
l'estomac
stomach
l'accord
le brouillard
agreement
fog
le nid
le nud
nest
knot
le nord
le pied
north
foot
l'oeuf
egg
le seuil
le soleil
le sourcil
threashold
sun
eyebrow
le conseil
le deuil
le fil
advice
mourning
thread
le journal
le miel
l'outil
newspaper
honey
tool
le parfum
perfume
le prnom
first name
l'an
le bain
year
bath
le besoin
le coin
need
corner
le dessin
le pain
drawing
bread
le tour
le ver
tour
worm
le coup
blow, hit
le drap
cloth, sheet
le battoir
le cur
le mur
beater
heart
wall
Exceptions: la jeep
l'acier
l'avenir
steel
future
to water
to close
to shave
l'arrosoir
le fermoir
le rasoir
watering can
fastener
shaver
le cerisier
le citronnier
le pommier
cherry tree
lemon tree
apple tree
calendar
paper
cherry
lemon
apple
le bois
le dos
le jus
wood
back
juice
le mois
le vers
month
verse, poetry
l'arrt
le droit
le fait
stop,decree
right
fact
le mandat
le robinet
mandate
faucet
le sommet
le souhait
le statut
summit
desire
ordinance
tooth
forest
la nuit
la part
night
portion, piece
la plupart
majority
Exceptions:
la dent
la fort
to subscribe
to register
to feel
l'abonnement
subscription
l'enregistrement registration
le sentiment
feeling
other: le monument
le choix
choice
le taux
rate
Exceptions:
la croix
la noix
cross
walnut
la paix
la toux
peace
cough
la voix
voice
l'opra
le soda
opera
coke
le tapioca
le yoga
tapioca
yoga
Vowel Endings
l'agenda
le magma
agenda
magma
Exceptions:
la villa, la polka, la samba, la salsa, la pizza, la vodka
l'abri
l'appui
l'aprs-midi
shelter
support
afternoon
le midi
le pli
midday
fold
le souci
le taxi
worry
taxi
la foi
la fourmi
faith
ant
la loi
law
la paroi
partition
ligloo
igloo
le vlo
bicycle
le zoo
zoo
Exceptions:
le malentendu
le menu
misunderstanding
menu
le reu
le tissu
receipt
cloth, fabric
le bandeau
le bureau
le cadeau
flag
office
gift
le cerveau
le chteau
le couteau
brain
castle
knife
le morceau
l'oiseau
le seau
piece
bird
bucket
neck
knee
l'hibou
le trou
owl
hole
le bijou
le caillou
practice
jewel
pebble
le cou
le genou
Part II Masculine
These nouns are examples of part II of the rule. They tend to be masculine, even
though they end in mute e. They have one of the following endings:
-ge
-le (except for nouns that end in -lle, -ole, -ale, or -ule)
-me
-re (except for -ure ending nouns)
-phe
-ge
-age endings
Almost all of the -age ending nouns with more than two syllables are masculine100% of the time when formed from a verb.
user
to use
l'usage
usage
reporter
to report
le reportage
report
passer
to occurr, to pass
le passage
sonder
to probe
le sondage
survey, poll
virer
to turn
le virage
turning
cheese
le nuage
cloud
le garage
garage
le message
message
le village
village
cage
la plage
beach
la rage
rabies
l'image
image
-ge endings
le collge
school
le pige
le mange
merry-go-round le privilge
trap
le sacrilge
sacrilege
privilege
le sige
headquarters
age
le refuge
refuge
le cierge
candle
le singe
monkey
le dluge
flood
le subterfuge
evasion
l'change
exchange
le vertige
dizziness
le prestige
prestige
le vestige
relic, remnant
Feminine
l'allonge
l'auberge
la barge
la charge
l'ponge
extension
tavern, inn
barge
load,burden
sponge
l'horloge
la jauge
la luge
la neige
practice
-me endings
Cardinal numbers are masculine.
clock
gauge
sled
snow
l'orge
la phalange
la purge
le louange
barley
finger bone
purge
praise
trois
quatre
cinq
six
three
four
five
six
un troisime
un quatrime
un cinquime
un sixime
third
fourth
fifth
sixth
l'altruisme
le charisme
Buddhism
capitalism
altruism
charisma
le cynisme
le communisme
l'hindouisme
cynicism
communism
Hinduism
le prisme
prism
blame
crime
dome
drama
vegetable
poem
problem
regime
kingdom
rhythm
system
term
theme
le charme
l'enthousiasme
le fantasme
le spasme
le sarcasme
le baptme
l'emblme
le diplme
le costume
le tome
le calme
le diaphragme
charm
enthusiasm
ghost
spasm
sarcasm
baptism
emblem
diploma
suit
tome
calmness
diaphragm
Exceptions:
l'alarme
l'me
l'arme
la bohme
la cime
la coutume
la crme
alarm
soul
weapon
bohemian
limit
summit
custom
l'cume
l'nigme
l'pigramme
l'escrime
l'estime
la ferme
la firme
froth, foam
enigma
epigram
fencing
respect
farm
firm
la forme
la gomme
la lame
la larme
la plume
la rame
la rime
form
gum
blade
tear
feather
oar
rhyme
cream
la flamme
flame
la trirme
trireme
practice
-le endings
The majority of -le ending nouns are masculine if we exclude the in -lle, -ole, -ale, or ule ending (Part I Feminine Examples).
le cble
le cercle
le couvercle
le diable
le disciple
l'ensemble
l'exemple
le meuble
cable
circle
cover, lid
devil
disciple
unity
example
furniture
le miracle
le muscle
l'obstacle
l'ongle
le peuple
le puzzle
le reptile
miracle
muscle
obstacle
fingernail
people
puzzle
reptile
le sable
le sicle
le souffle
le style
le triangle
l'utensile
le vignoble
sand
century
breath
style
triangle
utensil
vineyard
Exceptions:
l'aile
l'table
la fable
wing
stable
tale
l' le
la jungle
island
jungle
la pole
la toile
la table
frying pan
web
table
butter
center
balance
type
le martyre
le massacre
le sommaire
le tonnere
martyr
massacre
summary
thunder
le poivre
le sucre
le sourire
le ventre
le verre
pepper
sugar
smile
belly
glass
business
anchor
room
la grammaire
la guerre
la molaire
grammar
war
molar
la pierre
la rencontre
la terre
rock
meeting
land
practice
-re endings
le beurre
le centre
l'quilibre
le genre
Exceptions:
l'affaire
l'ancre
la chambre
la chaire
chair
la paire
pair
practice
-re endings are split down the middle
Masculine
le cimetire
cemetery
le magistre
polymer
le derrire
back, rear
le monastre
monastery
l'ulcre
ulcer
l'hlicoptre
helicopter
le mystre
mystery
beer
heather
era
la galre
la misre
galley
poverty
la prire
la sphre
prayer
sphere
Feminine
la bire
la bruyre
l're
practice
-oire endings are also evenly divided
Masculine
l'auditoire
le directoire
l'ivoire
audience
directory
ivory
le laboratoire
laboratory
le pourboire
tip ,gratuity
le promontoire promontory
le purgatoire
le rpertoire
le territoire
cupboard
bathtub
fair
la gloire
l' histoire
la mchoire
la trajectoire
la victoire
purgatory
territory
Feminine
l'armoire
la baignoire
la foire
practice
glory
history
jaw
trajectory
victory
-phe endings
le paragraphe
paragraph
le triomphe
triumph
-e
l'anne
la matine
year
morning
la gorge
la poigne
gulp
fistful
l'alle
la sortie
l'entreprise
la mise
walkway
exit
undertaking
placement
-ie
la comdie
la craie
la furie
l'insomnie
comedy
chalk
fury
insomnia
la joie
la tromperie
la mlodie
la mlancolie
joy
trickery
melody
melancholy
la posie
la proie
la plaie
la soie
poetry
prey
wound
silk
Exceptions:
le gnie
l'incendie
genius
fire
le parapluie
le foie
umbrella
liver
practice
-ue
la charrue
la grue
la mue
plow
crane
molting
la rue
la statue
street
statue
la boue
la revue
mud
review
la tenue
holding
la vue
view
syllable
leg
dawn
l'amibe
l'herbe
herb
amoeba
l'entrevue
interview
-be
la syllabe
la jambe
l'aube
la colombe
la tombe
la courbe
dove
tomb
curve
Exceptions:
le cube
le globe
cube
globe
le microbe
le tube
le verbe
microbe
tube
verb
practice
-ce
la face
la grimace
front
grimace
l'once
la populace
ounce
populace
la source
la ressource
spring (natural)
resource
greed
scar
l'hlice
la justice
propeller
justice
la malice
la police
malice
police
Masculine
l'appendice
l'armistice
le bnfice
appendix
armistice
profit
le caprice
le malfice
l'orifice
whim, caprice
evil spell
hole, opening
le sacrifice
le solstice
le vice
sacrifice
solstice
vice
practice
-ance, -ence
la confrence
la confiance
conference
trust
Exceptions: le silence
la diffrence
l'enfance
difference
infancy
l'vidence
la rsistance
evidence
resistance
-de
l'habitude
l'tude
la bourgade
la cascade
habit
study
large village
waterfall
la grenade
la lgende
la mthode
pomegranate, grenade
legend
method
Exceptions:
le stade
l'acide
le coude
le dioxyde
l'pisode
l'exode
le fluide
l'interlude
le lipide
stadium
acid
elbow
dioxide
episode
exodus
fluid
interlude
lipid
le monde
l'oxyde
l'iode
le prlude
le solide
world
oxide
iodine
prelude
solid
genocide
homicide
l'insecticide
le pesticide
insecticide
pesticide
practice
-fe
l'agrafe
la carafe
hook,clasp
carafe
la coiffe
l'toffe
hairstyle
material, cloth
-elle
la chandelle
la dentelle
l'chelle
la ficelle
candle
lace
ladder
string
la gazelle
la poubelle
la vaisselle
la selle
gazelle
garbage can
dishes
bowel movement
l'ombrelle
la sauterelle
sunshade
grasshopper
-ille
l'aiguille
la famille
la grille
l'abeille
la veille
la corbeille
needle
family
grate
bee
vigil
baslet
la taille
la bataille
la bouteille
la feuille
la maille
l'oreille
size
battle
bottle
leaf, sheet(paper)
stitch
ear
-ole
la bagnole
la casserole
la console
car
saucepan
console
l'idole
l'cole
la parole
idol
school
word
Exceptions:
le monopole
le contrle
monopoly
control
le rle
le symbole
role
symbol
-ale
la cymbale
l'escale
cymbal
stop, port of call
la pdale
la sandale
pedal
sandal
-ule
l'paule
la pellicule
la vsicule
la formule
la gueule
la cellule
shoulder
film
bladder
formula
mouth of animal
cell
l'ampoule
la foule
la crapule
la capsule
la pninsule
bulb, blister
crowd, multitude
crook
capsule
peninsula
Exceptions:
le prambule
le tentacule
practice
preamble
tenticle
le testicule
le ventricule
testical
ventricle
-gue
l'intrigue
la fatigue
intrigue, plot
fatigue
la drogue
la vogue
drug
fashion
-que
la polmique
controversy
la nuque
arithmetic
linguistics
l'informatique
computer science
Exceptions:
le moustique
l'lastique
le Mexique
l'astrisque
le cirque
le disque
le manque
mosquito
elastic
Mexico
asterisk
circus
disk
lack
le risque
le phoque
le kiosque
le casque
le chque
le classique
risk
seal
kiosc
helmet
check (bank)
classic
-ne
la haine
la plaine
hate
plain
Exceptions:le magazine
names of gas : le oxygne, le hydrogne
l'aine
la chane
groin
chain
countryside
thrift, economy
la ligne
la montagne
line, row
mountain
la vigne
vine
Exceptions:
le cygne
le champagne
swan
champagne
l'insigne
le gne
badge
embarrassment
le peigne
le rgne
comb
kingdom
practice
-pe
l'tape
l'quipe
stage
team
la gupe
la lampe
lamp
wasp
la jupe
la soupe
skirt
soup
le microscope
le gyroscope
le tlescope
-ure
aller
ouivert
peint
tourner
la froidure
l'heure
la coiffure
la figure
l'injure
l'allure
l'ouverture
la peinture
la tournure
coldness
hour
hairstyle
face
insult
Exceptions: le murmure
walk, gait
opening
paint
turn of events
la rayure
la blessure
la mesure
la culture
la mixture
stripe
injury
measure
culture
mixture
-se
la phrase
la crevasse
la danse
la dfense
sentence
dance
defence
Exceptions:le malaise
-esse ending nouns (the following are all formed from adjectives )
robuste
vite
souple
petit
robust
fast
flexible
small
la robustesse
la vitesse
la souplesse
la petitesse
strength, hardiness
speed
flexibility
smallness
Others:
la paresse
la caresse
laziness
caress
la promesse
promise
-te
la porte
la lutte
la chute
la rvolte
la cte
la goutte
la grotte
la tte
door
struggle, fight
fall
revolt
rib
drop
cave
head
la faute
la cravate
la carte
la tempte
la fte
la pente
la fente
la suite
error, mistake
tie
menu
storm
party
slope
crack, slot
continuation
Exceptions:
le coyote
l'antidote
le conte
le doute
le compte
coyote
l'antidote
story
doubt
count
le culte
le geste
l'inceste
l'insecte
le manifeste
cult
gesture
incest
insect
protest
le reste
le tumulte
le parachute
le vote
le zygote
nitrate
le carbonate
remainder
turmoil, uproar
parachute
vote
zygot
l'azote
nitrogen
le sulfate
-ette
la baguette
la barquette
baguette
small boat
la cassette
l'oubliette
casette
secret dungeon
-ve
l'preuve
la grve
test
strike
la larve
la lessive
larva
washing
la sve
la rive
sap
riverbank
-on
drink
cooking
song
function
la leon
la maison
la moisson
la mousson
lesson
house
harvest
monsoon
la nation
la pension
la prison
la ranon
la trahison
nation
pension
prison
ransom
betrayal
l'avion
airplane
le crayon
pencil
le jambon
ham
le camion
truck
le flocon
snowflake
le savon
soap
l'ion
ion
le scorpion
scorpion
le feuilleton
soap opera
le champignon
mushroom
la boisson
la cuisson
la chanson
la fonction
Exceptions:
Often augmentative nouns are formed by adding -on to another noun. They are
always masculine.
la balle
la veste
la carte
ball
short jacket
menu, card
le ballon
le veston
le carton
balloon,football
jacket
cardboard
reason
la saison
season
to progress
to translate
to expose
to communicate
to pollute
to represent
to reveal
to appreciate
la progression
la traduction
l'exposition
la communication
la pollution
la reprsentation
la rvlation
l'apprciation
progression
translation
exhibition
Others:
la compassion compassion
la diffusion
diffusion
l'illusion
l'occassion
illusion
occasion
la tlvision
la version
television
version
practice
l'acn
acne
la cl
key
-t
la libert, l'egalit, la fraternit
liberty, equality, fraternity
l'avidit
l'austrit
eagerness
austerity
la cit
la charit
city, town
charity
la nationalit
nationality
la beaut
beauty
la docilit
docility
la raret
rarity
-ti
l'amiti
friendship
la moiti
half
la piti
pity
heat
color
error
la fleur
la fureur
l'horreur
la liqueur
flower
fury
horror
liquor
la peur
la sueur
la valeur
la vapeur
fear
sweat
vapor
value
-eur
la chaleur
la couleur
l'erreur
white
large
deep, profound
la blancheur
la grandeur
la profondeur
whiteness
largeness
profoundness
Exceptions:
le bonheur
l'quateur
l'extrieur
happiness
equator
exterior
le facteur
l'honneur
le labeur
factor
honor
labor
l'intrieur
le malheur
le secteur
interior
unhappiness
sector
exporter
le rupteur
circuit-breaker
l'ordinateur
le conglateur
computer
freezer
engineer
liar
le rflecteur
le projecteur
reflector
projector
practice
Homonyms
l'ingnieur
le menteur
Gender determines the meaning of the following words. Careful! We wouldn't want a
war to start because of a gender mistake.
Masculine
Feminine
auteur
author hauteur
bal
height
balle
bout
capital
mud
chne
capital city
cours
chaine
foie
livre
book livre
maire
courtyard
time, faith
pound currency
mother
sea
mal
trunk
handle
manche
merci
manche
sleeve
mercy
mussel
moule
mould(cast) moule
pre/au pair
paire
father,
au pair paire de lunettes
pair of glasses
pair
tour
vase
vase vase
sludge
veil
voile
sail
voile
-m
Exception: la faim
-me
Exceptions: une alarme, une me, une arme, la cime, la coutume, la crme,
l'cume, une nigme, une estime, une ferme, une firme, une forme, une larme,
une plume, une rame, une rime, -mme ending
-ment
Exception: une jument
-n
Exceptions: la faon, la fin, la leon, la main, la maman, la ranon; -son and -ion
endings
-o
Exceptions: la dactylo, la dynamo, la libido, la mto, la moto, la steno (most of
these are apocopes of longer feminine words)
-oir
-one
-ou
-p
-r
Exceptions: la chair, la cour, la cuiller, la mer, la tour (see feminine -eur)
-s
Exceptions: la brebis, la fois, une oasis, la souris, la vis
-ste
Exceptions: la liste, la modiste, la piste; names for people like un(e) artiste, un(e)
nudiste, etc.
-t
Exceptions: la burlat, la dent, la dot, la fort, la jument, la mort, la nuit, la part, la
plupart, la ziggourat
-tre
Exceptions: la fentre, une hutre, la lettre, la montre, la rencontre, la vitre
-u
Exceptions: l'eau, la peau, la tribu, la vertu
-x
Exceptions: la croix, la noix, la paix, la toux, la voix
Notes
Obscure exceptions are not listed.
To avoid confusion, dual-gender nouns are not listed.
Please share your comments/additions/critiques on the forum .
French gender
is a constant headache for many students of French. Why is tmoin always
masculine and victimealways feminine, when men and women can be
either/both? What's the logic behind gender in French? There's no simple answer
to this question, and no simple way to know the gender of every noun other than
just learning the gender with each word. There are, however, some patterns in
suffixes and word endings - certain endings tend to indicate masculine nouns,
while other endings favor feminine nouns. As you can see by the lists of
exceptions, these gender patterns are not fool-proof, but they can help you to
figure out the gender of many French nouns.
Here are some suffixes that usually indicate feminine nouns , as well as some
important exceptions.
-ace
Exceptions: un ace, un palace
-ade
Exceptions: le grade, le jade, le stade
-ale
Exceptions: un chle, un ptale, un scandale
-ance
-be
Exceptions: un cube, un globe, un microbe, un tube, un verbe
-ce
Exceptions: un artifice, un armistice, un appendice, le bnfice, le caprice, le
commerce, le dentifrice, le divorce, un exercice, un office, un orifice, un
prcipice, un prince, un sacrifice, un service, le silence, le solstice, le supplice,
un vice
-c
Exception: un crustac
-e
Note: most countries and names that end in e are feminine
-ee
Exception: un pedigree
-e
Exceptions: un apoge, un lyce, un muse, un prige, un trophe
-esse
-eur
Note: this applies mainly to abstract qualities and emotions, except le bonheur,
l'extrieur, l'honneur, l'intrieur, le malheur, le meilleur. Also see -eur on the
masculine endings page.
-fe
Exception: le golfe
-ie
Exceptions: un incendie, le foie, le gnie, le parapluie, le sosie
-ire
Exceptions: l'arrire, le cimetire, le derrire
-ine
Exceptions: le capitaine, le domaine, le moine, le magazine, le patrimoine
-ion
Exceptions: un avion, un bastion, un billion, un camion, un cation, un dominion,
un espion, un ion, un lampion, un lion, un million, le morpion, un pion, un scion,
un scorpion, un trillion
-ique
Exceptions: un graphique, un priphrique
-ire
Exceptions: un auditoire, un commentaire, un dictionnaire, un directoire, un
horaire, un itinraire, l'ivoire, un laboratoire, un navire, un pourboire, le
purgatoire, le rpertoire, le salaire, le sommaire, le sourire, le territoire, le
vocabulaire
-ise
-ite
Exceptions: l'anthracite, un ermite, le granite, le graphite, le mrite, l'opposite, le
plbiscite, un rite, un satellite, un site, un termite
-lle
Exceptions: le braille, un gorille, un intervalle, un mille, un portefeuille, le
vaudeville, le vermicelle, le violoncelle
-mme
Exceptions: un dilemme, un gramme, un programme
-nde
Exception: le monde
-nne
-ole
Exceptions: le contrle, le monopole, le rle, le symbole
-rre
Exceptions: le beurre, le parterre, le tonnerre, le verre
-se
Exceptions: un carosse, un colosse, le gypse, l'inverse, un malaise, un
pamplemousse, un parebrise, le suspense
-s
Exceptions: un expos, un oppos
-sion
-son
Exceptions: un blason, un blouson
-t
Notes
Obscure exceptions are not listed.
To avoid confusion, dual-gender nouns are not listed.
Please share your comments/additions/critiques on the forum .
The gender of French nouns tends to be a sticky grammar point for students,
especially when it does not exist in their mother tongue. Although getting the
gender right is very important, most of the time the wrong gender will not hinder
le champagne - champagne
la Champagne - Champagne region
le chne - oak tree/wood
la chane - chain, channel, stereo
le chvre - goat cheese
la chvre - goat
le chine - china, rice paper
la chine - second-hand / used trade
la Chine - China
le chose - thingie, contraption
la chose - thing
le claque - opera hat, (familiar) brothel
la claque - slap
le coche - stagecoach
la coche - check mark, tick (on a form)
le col - collar, neck
la colle - glue
le coq - rooster
la coque - hull, fuselage, cockle
le cours - class
le court - (tennis) court
la cour - courtyard, court of law
le crme - coffee with cream
la crme - cream
le crpe - crepe material
le manuvre - laborer
la manuvre - maneuver, operation
le manille - Manila cigar, Manila hat
la manille - (card game) manille; Manille shackle
le manque - lack, shortage, fault
la manque - (familiar) crummy, second-rate
le mari - husband
la mari - marijuana ( apocope of la marijuana )
Marie - feminine name
le martyr - male martyr
le martyre - martyrdom, agony
la martyre - female martyr
le Maure - Moor
le mors - bit (horse-riding)
le mort - dead body
la mort - death
le mauve - mauve
la mauve - mallow plant
le mec (informal) - guy, bloke
la Mecque - Mecca
le mgot - cigarette butt
la mgot - cigarette
le mmoire - memo, report, memoirs
la mmoire - memory
le merci - thanks
la merci - mercy
le mi - mi (musical note E)
la mie - soft part of bread
le mi-temps - (work) part-time
la mi-temps - (sports) half, half-time
le micro-onde - microwave oven
la micro-onde - microwave (electromagnetic radiation)
le mite - moth
la mythe - myth
le mode - method, way, mood
la mode - fashion
le moral - morale
la morale - moral (of a story), morals
le mou - softness
la moue - pout
le moule - mold
la moule - mussel
le mousse - ship's boy (apprentice)
la mousse - moss, froth, foam, mousse
le mur - wall
la mre - blackberry
le nocturne - night hunter (bird), nocturn (religion), nocturne (music, art)
la nocturne - late night store opening, sports match, meeting
un uvre - body of work
une uvre - piece of work, task
un office - office, bureau
le platine - platinum
la platine - turntable, deck, strip of metal
le poche - paperback book
la poche - pocket, pouch
le pole - stove
la pole - frying pan
le poids - weight
le pois - pea, dot
la poix - pitch, tar
le poignet - wrist, (shirt) cuff
la poigne - handful, fistful; handle
le poison - poison, (informal) unpleasant man or boy
la poison - (informal) unpleasant woman or girl
le politique - politician
la politique - politics, policy
le ponte - (informal) big shot
la ponte - laying eggs, clutch of eggs
le poste - job, post, tv/radio set
la poste - post office, mail/post
le pot - jar, pot, tin, can
la peau - skin
le pub - pub/bar
la pub - ad ( apocope of publicit )
le pupille - male ward
la pupille - pupil (eye), female ward
le soi - self, id
la soie - silk
le sol - ground, floor, soil
la sole - sole (fish)
le solde - balance (account), sale
la solde - pay
le somme - snooze, nap
la somme - sum, amount
le souris - smile (archaic)
la souris - mouse
le tic - tic, twitch
la tique - tick
le tour - tour, turn, trick
la tour - tower, rook (chess)
le tout - whole
la toux - cough
le trompette - trumpeter
la trompette - trumpet
le vague - vagueness
la vague - wave
le vapeur - steamer
la vapeur - steam, haze, vapor
le vase - vase
la vase - silt, mud
le vigile - night watchman
la vigile - vigil
le visa - visa (to enter a country)
la visa - Visa (credit card)
le voile - veil
la voile - sail
http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/resources/french/grammar-guides/masculinefeminine/
article
Masculine
Feminine
Le
La
L'
e article
in front of a vowel
Un
L'
in front of a vowel
Une
A lot of nouns that refer to men form their feminine forms simply by adding an e, as in ami>amie "friend," or
in employ>employe "employee." Of course, if the word already ends in an e, there is no need to add an extra one.
For example, lve "student" can be either masculine or feminine.
Sometimes the masculine and feminine forms of nouns are very different from each other. Here are some
examples:
Homme>femme "man, woman"
Taureau>vache "bull, cow"
Neveu>nice "nephew, niece"
the week
and seasons
es
nd shrubs
s and wines
nd minerals
le lundi "Monday"
le mercredi "Wednesday"
dcembre "December"
le printemps "spring"
l'hiver "winter"
le franais "French"
le roumain "Romanian"
le pommier "the apple tree"
le platane "the plane tree"
and measures
l'or "gold"
le diamant "diamond"
le rubis "ruby"
nding in ai
nding in age
nding in ment
nding in isme
nding in oi
ending in oir
nding in ou
le devoir "duty"
le rire "laughter"
l'impossible "that which is impossible"
le srieux "seriousness"
le balai "broom"
l'essai "essay"
le village "village"
le voyage "journey"
un appartement "apartment"
le vtement "garment"
un organisme "organism"
le cyclisme "cycling"
un emploi "a job"
un tournoi "a tournament"
un miroir "mirror"
le soir "evening"
le chou "cabbage"
le genou "knee"
la banane "banana"
l'orange "orange"
la carotte "carrot"
Exceptions: le concombre "cucumber," le pamplemousse "grapefruit"
of academic subjects
la philosophie "philosophy"
la linguistique "linguistics"
la limousine "the limousine"
of cars
nding in aie
la plaie "wound"
la bataille "battle"
nding in aille
nding in eine
la peine "punishment"
l'influence "influence"
nding in ence
la carence "deficiency"
la haine "hatred"
nding in aine
nding in euse
la tondeuse "lawnmower"
nding in ie
la partie "part"
la vie "life"
l'altitude "altitude"
nding in tude
l'habitude "habit"
la taille "size"
la baisse "a drop"
la chaussette "sock"
For instance, le critique is "a critic," while la critique means "criticism." Here are some other examples:
Un aide "assistant," une aide "help," or "female assistant"
Le garde "guard," la garde "protection"
La mort "death," le mort "dead person"
Le pole "stove/heater," la pole "frying pan"
Le tour "trick/tour," la tour "tower"
Le La - Rules for
Articles / Gender in
French
Introduction
In French language, there are two definite articles for nouns in singular: le for masculine
gender and la for feminine gender. Both le and la become l' when they precede a noun
beginning with a vowel or a silent h. All nouns in plural have the article les.
French native speakers know mostly intuitively what the article of each noun is.
However, non-native speakers need to memorize the articles. There are several rules
and guidelines determining the articles of some categories of nouns. But beware
exceptions.
General rules.
In French language there are some categories of words that are generally masculine
or feminine.
Masculine names:
Category
Examples
Names of languages:
le franais (French)
le sapin (pine)
Exceptions
une
aubpine
(hawthorn),
la ronce
(bramble),
la vigne
(vine)
une
meraude
(emerald),
la perle
(pearl), la
roche
(rock)
Names of colors:
le bleu (blue)
numerals
ending in
aine: la
soixantaine
(about
sixty)
la moiti
(half)
Names of aeroplanes:
le Concorde, le Boeing
la Caravelle
Feminine names:
Category
Examples
Exceptions
la chimie (chemistry)
le droit (law)
Names of fruit and vegetables ending in e: la pomme (apple), la carotte (carrot) le concombre
(cucumber), le
pamplemousse
(grapefruit)
Names of cars:
une Peugeot
Names of watches:
une Rolex
In French language there are certain suffixes which can signalize you what
gender the word can be. In the table below you may find some typical masculine
and feminine suffixes. Almost each rule has exceptions, some of them we also
included in the table.
Masculine
suffixes
(ending)
Exceptions
Feminine
suffixes
Exceptions
-age
-ace
Un espace
-ble
-ade
le grade, le
jade, le
stade
-ale
un chle, un
ptale, un
scandale
-c
-cle
une boucle
-de
-ance
-be
un cube, un
globe, un
microbe, un
tube, un
verbe
-eau
l'eau, la peau
-c
un crustac
-ge
la Norvge
-ence
le silence
-e
un apoge,
un lyce, un
muse, un
-eme
prige, un
trophe
-et
-f
-esse
la soif, la clef, la nef
-fe
le golfe
-ie
un incendie,
le foie, le
gnie, un
parapluie,
un sosie
-ire
l'arrire, le
cimetire, le
derrire
-ing
-ine
le capitaine,
le domaine,
le moine, le
magazine, le
patrimoine
-isme
-ique
un
graphique,
un
priphrique
-g
-i
-k
-ise
-l
-lle
le braille, un
gorille, un
intervalle,
un mille, un
portefeuille,
le
vaudeville,
le
vermicelle,
le
violoncelle
-m
la faim
-nne
une jument
-nde
le monde
-oir
-rre
le beurre, le
parterre, le
tonnerre, le
verre
-one
-s
un expos,
un oppos
-ou
-sion
-p
-son
un blason,
un blouson
une brebis, une fois, une oasis, une souris, une vis
-t
un arrt,
un comit,
un comt,
un ct, un
t, lun
pt, un
trait
-ti
une dent, une dot, une fort, une jument, la mort, une nuit,
la part, la plupart
-tion
le bastion
-ude
un coude,
un interlude,
le prlude
-u
-ue
un abaque
-x
-ure
un centaure,
le cyanure,
un
dinosaure, le
murmure
-ment
-s
-ste
-t
-tre
un espace (space)
un livre (book)
le mmoire (memorandum)
la mmoire (memory)
un mode (mode)
un tour (trip)
le vase (vase)
la vase (mud)
etc.
There are also three French words which change their gender in plural : amour,
dlice and orgue
"Amour" (love) is masculine in singular and feminine in plural (un amour - ses
premires amours).
"Orgue" (organ) is masculine but may have feminine usage in plural (un orgue de belles orgues).
"Dlice" (delight) is masculine in singular and feminine in plural.
To make most of these nouns feminine, just add -e to the end: un tudiant(male
student) becomes une tudiante (female student).
If a masculine noun ends in -en or -on, add -ne for the feminine form: Un
pharmacien (pharmacist) becomes une pharmacienne.
Nouns that end in -er change to -re for the feminine: un cassier (cashier)
becomes une cassire
Nouns that end in -eur may become feminine with -euse or -rice: un
vendeur (vender) becomes une vendeuse; un tradecteur becomes une traductrice
Nouns that end in -e in the masculine form have no change for the feminine (other
than in the article, which changes to une, la, or de la).
According to the Acadmie franaise, which regulates the "purity" of the French
language, some nouns that refer to people, such as un mdecin (doctor) and une
victime (victim), retain their gender regardless of who they are applied to. Although this
is the official stance in France, other French-speaking countries such as Canada have
both masculine and feminine forms for most of these nouns.
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Feminine or masculine, that is the question you often ask yourself as a French
learner. After hours trying to figure out why cheveux (hair) is masculine and
chaise (chair) feminine, you came to the inevitable conclusion : the gender of
French nouns was randomly chosen by a bunch of sadistic linguists.
Luckily, this is not entirely true, and some patterns can help you determine the
gender of French noun. Here are several ways to know the gender of a
French noun.
Looking for a great grammar course? I recommend The Complete & Easy
French Grammar for Beginners. As a French Together reader, you get 60%
off
After a while, you will see that you can intuitively guess the gender of a noun
based on its ending.
-an, -and, -ant, -ent, -in, -int, -om, -ond, -ont, -on (but not after s/c)
-eau, -au, -aud, -aut, -o, -os, -ot
-ai, -ais, -ait, -es, -et
-ou, -out, -out, -oux
-i, -il, -it, -is, -y
-at, -as, -ois, -oit
-u, -us, -ut, -eu
-er, -eafter C (C=t)
-age, -ege, ` eme, -ome/- ` ome, -aume, -isme
-as, -is, -os, -us, -ex
-it, -est
-al, -el, -il, -ol, -eul, -all
-if, -ef
-ac, -ic, -oc, -uc
-am, -um, -en
-air, -er, -erf, -ert, -ar, -arc, -ars, -art, -our, -ours, -or, -ord, -ors, -ort, -ir, oir, -eur
(if animate)
-ail, -eil, -euil, -ueil
-ing