Gender of nouns
1 Definitions A noun is a word which names a person, thing, place, substance or state. Unlike in English, where only nouns referring to living beings are
masculine
or
feminine
, in French all nouns have a
gender
.
For example the French word bateau is masculine and the word table is feminine, even though there is nothing intrinsically masculine or feminine about boats or tables.
2 Gender by category 2.1 Masculine words The following types of word are generally
masculine
:
Words referring to males:
le père
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the father
le fils
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the son
un boucher
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the king
un Français
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a Frenchman
Days, months, seasons, measures:
le mardi
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on Tuesdays
mai dernier
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last May
le printemps
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spring
un kilo
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a kilo
le français
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French
l'espagnol
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Spanish
Countries not ending in -e :
le Canada
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Canada
le Japon
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Japan
J’y suis allé le 16 mai.
I went there on 16 May.
Le cerisier à fleurs ne donne pas de cerises.
The flowering cherry tree does not produce cherries.
C’est le fils de feu Monsieur Durand.
He’s the son of the late Monsieur Durand.
Mon frère aîné c’est un boucher.
My older brother’s a butcher.
J’étudie le français depuis deux ans.
I’ve been studying French for two years.
2.2 Feminine words The following types of word are generally
feminine
:
Words referring to females:
la mère
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the mother
la fille
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the daughter
une coiffeuse
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a hairdresser
une française
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a French woman
Most countries, continents, rivers, vegetables and fruit ending in -e :
la France
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France
la Tamise
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the Thames
une carotte
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a carrot
la pomme
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the apple
une boutique
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a shop
la boucherie
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the baker's
Note
Note that the French word for person is always feminine: une personne
Le lapin mangeait une carotte.
The rabbit was eating a carrot.
Mon professeur de français, Madame Durand, c’est une Française.
My French teacher, Madame Durand, is French.
On est allés voir le film La Fille de d’Artagnan.
We went to see the film D’Artagnan’s daughter.
Elle a ouvert une boutique de vêtements pour enfants.
She’s opened a children’s clothes shop.
Ils habitent dans la vallée de la Loire.
They live in the Loire valley.
3 Gender by word ending 3.1 Masculine words Words with the following endings are usually
masculine
:
Table 28.3 Feminine word endings hide table Word ending French English – au un tuyau pipe – acle un spectacle show, sight – age un voyage journey – asme le sarcasme sarcasm – eau le bateau boat – ège le sacrilège sacrilege – ème le problème problem – et le paquet packet – isme un organisme body – ment un établissement establishment
Les ciseaux sont dans le tiroir du haut de mon bureau.
The scissors are in the top drawer of my desk.
Un panneau triangulaire annonce un danger.
A triangular sign announces a danger.
Attention, il y a un rétrécissement de la chaussée à l’entrée du village.
Be careful, the road narrows as you enter the village.
Cet été nous avons fait un voyage en Grèce.
This summer we travelled to Greece.
Il est interdit de se garer sur le trottoir.
It is forbidden to park on the pavement.
Note
Exceptions include:
la plage
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beach une image
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picture la peau
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skin de l’eau chaude
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hot water
Les deux pays ont signé un traité de non-prolifération des armes nucléaires.
The two countries have signed a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Nous n’avons pas le choix - il faut accepter son offre.
We have no choice - we must accept his offer.
Selon les chercheurs l’obésité de l’enfant reste un phénomène des sociétés occidentales.
According to researchers child obesity remains a phenomenon of Western societies.
C’est un des lycées les plus célèbres de France.
It’s one of the most famous lycées in France.
L’annonce de ce nouveau contrat est le signe que tout va bien dans l’entreprise.
The announcement of this new contract is a sign that things are going well in the company.
3.2 Feminine words Words with the following endings are usually
feminine
:
Table 25.4 Feminine word endings hide table Word ending French English – ade la bousculade jostling; crush – aison la maison house – ance une instance authority – ée la journée day – ence une expérience experience – ense la défense defence – eur la couleur colour – ière la frontière border – sion une expansion expansion – tion la caution deposit – ude une attitude attitude – ure la fermeture closing – xion une réflexion reflection
Cette entreprise doit améliorer la qualité de ses produits.
This firm must improve the quality of its products.
C’était une expérience à ne pas manquer.
It was an experience not to be missed.
L’inauguration a été honorée de la présence du premier ministre.
The inauguration was honoured by the presence of the prime minister.
J’ai oublié la combinaison de ce cadenas.
I’ve forgotten the combination of this padlock.
Il se bat pour la liberté d’expression dans son pays.
He’s fighting for freedom of expression in his country.
Note
Exceptions include:
un musée
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museum le silence
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silence le bonheur
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happiness un cimetière
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cemetary
Le vin rouge n’est pas mauvais pour la santé si on en boit avec modération.
Red wine is not bad for your health if you drink it in moderation.
Il nous a montré la façon la plus simple de résoudre ce problème.
He showed us the easiest way of solving this problem.
Il a été très affecté par la mort de son père.
He was very affected by the death of his father.
Cette émission donne une image totalement fausse de la situation.
This programme gives a totally false picture of the situation.
C’est une crème pour la peau sèche.
It’s a cream for dry skin.
