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
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.
C’est le fils de feu Monsieur Durand.
He’s the son of the late Monsieur Durand.
C’est le Portugal qui a gagné le tournoi.
It was Portugal who won the tournament.
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.
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?
Mon professeur de français, Madame Durand, c’est une Française.
My French teacher, Madame Durand, is French.
J’ai demandé un rendez-vous à la secrétaire.
I asked the secretary for a meeting.
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
Nous avons pris le canot gonflable pour les enfants.
We’ve brought the inflatable dinghy for the children.
Le tourisme est un des piliers de l’économie espagnole.
Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Spanish economy.
Je veux acheter un miroir pour l’entrée.
I want to buy a mirror for the hallway.
Peux-tu aller poster le paquet qui est sur la table?
Can you go and post the package that’s on the table?
Cet été nous avons fait un voyage en Grèce.
This summer we travelled to Greece.
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 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.
Le vote électronique soulève des questions à la fois politiques et techniques.
Electronic voting raises both political and technical questions.
Dans le doute consultez votre médecin.
If in doubt consult your doctor.
C’est un des lycées les plus célèbres de France.
It’s one of the most famous lycées in 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
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.
Ne partons pas trop tard si nous voulons éviter la bousculade dans le métro.
Let’s not leave too late if we want to avoid the crush in the Metro.
J’ai pu garer la voiture devant l’entrée de l’hôtel.
I was able to park the car in front of the hotel entrance.
J’ai oublié la combinaison de ce cadenas.
I’ve forgotten the combination of this padlock.
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 source donne une eau riche en sels minéraux.
This source produces water that is rich in mineral salts.
Il nous a montré la façon la plus simple de résoudre ce problème.
He showed us the easiest way of solving this problem.
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.
C’est une crème pour la peau sèche.
It’s a cream for dry skin.
