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
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the father
le fils
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the son
un boucher
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the king
un Français
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a Frenchman
Days, months, seasons, measures:
le mardi
Your browser does not support the audio element.
on Tuesdays
mai dernier
Your browser does not support the audio element.
last May
le printemps
Your browser does not support the audio element.
spring
un kilo
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a kilo
le français
Your browser does not support the audio element.
French
l'espagnol
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Spanish
Countries not ending in -e :
le Canada
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Canada
le Japon
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Japan
Le mardi nous faisons de la natation.
On Tuesdays we go swimming.
Je voudrais un kilo de pommes.
I’d like a kilo of apples.
Le chêne du parc a été arraché par la tempête.
The oak tree in the park has been blown down in the storm.
C’est un livre sur le Japon et sa culture.
It’s a book on Japan and its culture.
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
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the mother
la fille
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the daughter
une coiffeuse
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a hairdresser
une française
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a French woman
Most countries, continents, rivers, vegetables and fruit ending in -e :
la France
Your browser does not support the audio element.
France
la Tamise
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the Thames
une carotte
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a carrot
la pomme
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the apple
une boutique
Your browser does not support the audio element.
a shop
la boucherie
Your browser does not support the audio element.
the baker's
Note
Note that the French word for person is always feminine: une personne
Elle a mangé une pomme et un yaourt à midi.
She ate an apple and a yoghurt at lunchtime.
Nous avons fait un tour en bateau-mouche sur la Seine.
We took a trip in a bateau-mouche on the Seine.
La Tamise est le fleuve le plus long d’Angleterre.
The Thames is the longest river in England.
Peux-tu aller me chercher quelque chose à la pharmacie?
Could you go and get me something from the chemist’s?
Le lapin mangeait une carotte.
The rabbit was eating a carrot.
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 interdit de se garer sur le trottoir.
It is forbidden to park on the pavement.
Il faut un escabeau pour accéder au grenier.
You need a stepladder to get into the attic.
Le baptême aura lieu dimanche prochain dans l’église paroissiale.
The christening will take place next Sunday in the parish church.
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.
Note
Exceptions include:
la plage
Your browser does not support the audio element.
beach une image
Your browser does not support the audio element.
picture la peau
Your browser does not support the audio element.
skin de l’eau chaude
Your browser does not support the audio element.
hot water
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.
Avec la montée en puissance d’Internet le commerce électronique est en plein essor.
With the increase in the power of the Internet electronic commerce is booming.
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.
Le groupe a annoncé une hausse de dix pour cent des bénéfices.
The group announced an increase in profits of ten per cent.
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
Il se bat pour la liberté d’expression dans son pays.
He’s fighting for freedom of expression in his country.
Il vaut mieux se coucher tôt. Une rude journée nous attend demain.
We’d better get an early night. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.
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.
J’ai une répétition au théâtre à trois heures cet après-midi.
I’ve got a rehearsal at the theatre at three o’clock this afternoon.
Note
Exceptions include:
un musée
Your browser does not support the audio element.
museum le silence
Your browser does not support the audio element.
silence le bonheur
Your browser does not support the audio element.
happiness un cimetière
Your browser does not support the audio element.
cemetary
Une rencontre entre les deux chefs d’Etats est au programme.
A meeting between the two heads of state is on the agenda.
Elle a pris une part importante dans l’élaboration de ces réformes.
She played an important part in the development of these reforms.
Cette source donne une eau riche en sels minéraux.
This source produces water that is rich in mineral salts.
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 est interdit de dormir sur la plage.
It is forbidden to sleep on the beach.
