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
Jean est le neveu de nos voisins.
Jean is the nephew of our neighbours.
Je voudrais un kilo de pommes.
I’d like a kilo of apples.
J’étudie le français depuis deux ans.
I’ve been studying French for two years.
Le pommier de notre jardin donne de très bonnes pommes.
The apple tree in our garden produces very good apples.
J’y suis allé le 16 mai.
I went there on 16 May.
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
Il ne reste qu’ une tomate.
There’s only one tomato left.
Nous avons fait un tour en bateau-mouche sur la Seine.
We took a trip in a bateau-mouche on the Seine.
Elle a ouvert une boutique de vêtements pour enfants.
She’s opened a children’s clothes shop.
Le lapin mangeait une carotte.
The rabbit was eating a carrot.
Peux-tu aller me chercher quelque chose à la pharmacie?
Could you go and get me something from the chemist’s?
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
Il est professeur de maths dans un établissement privé.
He’s a maths teacher in a private school.
Un déménagement est souvent l’occasion de faire du tri dans ses affaires.
Moving house is often a good time to sort out your things.
Nous avons pris le canot gonflable pour les enfants.
We’ve brought the inflatable dinghy for the children.
Certains considèrent la démolition de ce vieux bâtiment comme étant un sacrilège.
Some consider the demolition of this old building to be a sacrilege.
Le règlement de l’école interdit aux enfants de fumer.
The school rules forbid children to smoke.
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
Un manque de moyens financiers ralentit la construction de l’école.
A lack of finance is slowing up the construction of the school.
J’ai fait un rêve étrange cette nuit.
I had a strange dream last night.
Le cimetière du Père-Lachaise se situe dans l’est de Paris.
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is situated in the east of Paris.
Sa femme refuse d’envisager le divorce.
His wife refuses to consider a divorce.
Le professeur nous a expliqué le principe de la machine à vapeur.
The teacher explained to us the principle of the steam engine.
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
Tout le monde a été choqué par la démission du premier ministre.
Everyone was shocked by the prime minister’s resignation.
Pour louer cet appartement nous avons dû verser une caution de mille euros.
In renting this flat we had to pay a deposit of a thousand euros.
Je cherche la traduction de ce livre de Marquez
I’m looking for this book by Marquez in translation.
Je ne peux pas y accéder - je ne connais pas la combinaison.
I can’t get in - I don’t know the combination.
Les économistes prévoient une expansion économique au cours des cinq prochaines années.
Economists are predicting an economic expansion over the next five years.
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
Elle a pris une part importante dans l’élaboration de ces réformes.
She played an important part in the development of these reforms.
Cette émission donne une image totalement fausse de la situation.
This programme gives a totally false picture of the situation.
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.
Cette source donne une eau riche en sels minéraux.
This source produces water that is rich in mineral salts.
Il est interdit de dormir sur la plage.
It is forbidden to sleep on the beach.
