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
Le pommier de notre jardin donne de très bonnes pommes.
The apple tree in our garden produces very good apples.
Je voudrais un kilo de pommes.
I’d like a kilo of apples.
C’est le Portugal qui a gagné le tournoi.
It was Portugal who won the tournament.
C’est le père de Nicolas.
He’s Nicholas’s father.
Un Français a été blessé dans l’attentat.
A Frenchman was injured in the attack.
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
Nous avons fait un tour en bateau-mouche sur la Seine.
We took a trip in a bateau-mouche on the Seine.
J’ai demandé un rendez-vous à la secrétaire.
I asked the secretary for a meeting.
Il se marie avec une coiffeuse.
He’s getting married to a hairdresser.
La France est le plus grand pays d’Europe.
France is the largest country in Europe.
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
Le règlement de l’école interdit aux enfants de fumer.
The school rules forbid children to smoke.
Nous avons pris le canot gonflable pour les enfants.
We’ve brought the inflatable dinghy for the children.
Il a abandonné le journalisme pour écrire des romans.
He gave up journalism to write novels.
Le baptême aura lieu dimanche prochain dans l’église paroissiale.
The christening will take place next Sunday in the parish church.
J’ai acheté un tuyau d’arrosage pour le jardin.
I’ve bought a hose for the garden.
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
Le professeur nous a expliqué le principe de la machine à vapeur.
The teacher explained to us the principle of the steam engine.
Le cimetière du Père-Lachaise se situe dans l’est de Paris.
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is situated in the east of Paris.
Le traité de paix a prévu un échange de prisonniers.
The peace treaty provided for an exchange of prisoners.
L’argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
Money can’t buy you happiness.
Les deux pays ont signé un traité de non-prolifération des armes nucléaires.
The two countries have signed a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
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
Les économistes prévoient une expansion économique au cours des cinq prochaines années.
Economists are predicting an economic expansion over the next five years.
Je cherche la traduction de ce livre de Marquez
I’m looking for this book by Marquez in translation.
J’aime bien la confiture de framboise.
I really like raspberry jam.
Il a hérité la maison de ses parents.
He inherited the house from his parents.
Cette entreprise doit améliorer la qualité de ses produits.
This firm must improve the quality of its products.
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.
La chose que je ne comprends pas c’est pourquoi il ne nous en a pas parlé.
The thing I don’t understand is why he didn’t talk to us about it.
Il m’a fait une offre pour ce tableau que je ne pouvais refuser.
He made me an offer for this painting that I couldn’t refuse.
Il a été très affecté par la mort de son père.
He was very affected by the death of his father.
C’est une crème pour la peau sèche.
It’s a cream for dry skin.
