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
J’y suis allé le 16 mai.
I went there on 16 May.
C’est le fils de feu Monsieur Durand.
He’s the son of the late Monsieur Durand.
Le cerisier à fleurs ne donne pas de cerises.
The flowering cherry tree does not produce cherries.
Le chêne du parc a été arraché par la tempête.
The oak tree in the park has been blown down in the storm.
En 1497 Jean Cabot découvre le Canada.
In 1497 Jean Cabot discovered Canada.
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
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.
La Tamise est le fleuve le plus long d’Angleterre.
The Thames is the longest river in England.
Il y a une boulangerie près de l’entrée de notre immeuble.
There’s a baker’s near the entrance to our flats.
La France est le plus grand pays d’Europe.
France is the largest country in Europe.
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
Un panneau triangulaire annonce un danger.
A triangular sign announces a danger.
Cet été nous avons fait un voyage en Grèce.
This summer we travelled to Greece.
Attention, il y a un rétrécissement de la chaussée à l’entrée du village.
Be careful, the road narrows as you enter the village.
Le tourisme est un des piliers de l’économie espagnole.
Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Spanish economy.
Nous cherchons un collège qui ne soit pas trop loin de chez nous.
We’re looking for a secondary school that isn’t too far from where we live.
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
Nous n’avons pas le choix - il faut accepter son offre.
We have no choice - we must accept his offer.
C’est un des lycées les plus célèbres de France.
It’s one of the most famous lycées in France.
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.
Le groupe a annoncé une hausse de dix pour cent des bénéfices.
The group announced an increase in profits of ten per cent.
Ils possède un vaste domaine dans le sud-ouest de la France.
He owns a vast estate in the south-west of France.
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
C’était une expérience à ne pas manquer.
It was an experience not to be missed.
J’ai oublié la combinaison de ce cadenas.
I’ve forgotten the combination of this padlock.
L’inauguration a été honorée de la présence du premier ministre.
The inauguration was honoured by the presence of the prime minister.
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.
Avec l’anglais c’est souvent la prononciation qui est le plus difficile.
With English it’s often pronunciation that is the most difficult.
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
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.
C’est une crème pour la peau sèche.
It’s a cream for dry skin.
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.
Elle a pris une part importante dans l’élaboration de ces réformes.
She played an important part in the development of these reforms.
