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’étudie le français depuis deux ans.
I’ve been studying French for two years.
Le mardi nous faisons de la natation.
On Tuesdays we go swimming.
En 1497 Jean Cabot découvre le Canada.
In 1497 Jean Cabot discovered Canada.
J’y suis allé le 16 mai.
I went there on 16 May.
Le Danemark fait partie de l’Union Européenne depuis 1973.
Denmark has been part of the European Union since 1973.
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 ouvert une boutique de vêtements pour enfants.
She’s opened a children’s clothes shop.
Elle a mangé une pomme et un yaourt à midi.
She ate an apple and a yoghurt at lunchtime.
Il y a une boulangerie près de l’entrée de notre immeuble.
There’s a baker’s near the entrance to our flats.
Le lapin mangeait une carotte.
The rabbit was eating a carrot.
La pomme de terre n’est pas originaire d’Europe.
The potato is not native to 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
Certains considèrent la démolition de ce vieux bâtiment comme étant un sacrilège.
Some consider the demolition of this old building to be a sacrilege.
Il faut un escabeau pour accéder au grenier.
You need a stepladder to get into the attic.
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.
Les ciseaux sont dans le tiroir du haut de mon bureau.
The scissors are in the top drawer of my desk.
Elle vient de cirer le parquet du salon.
She’s just polished the parquet floor in the living room.
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
Sa femme refuse d’envisager le divorce.
His wife refuses to consider a divorce.
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.
Ils possède un vaste domaine dans le sud-ouest de la France.
He owns a vast estate in the south-west of France.
Les deux pays ont signé un traité de non-prolifération des armes nucléaires.
The two countries have signed a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Nous n’avons pas le choix - il faut accepter son offre.
We have no choice - we must accept his offer.
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
L’inauguration a été honorée de la présence du premier ministre.
The inauguration was honoured by the presence of the prime minister.
La circulation au centre de Paris est très dense.
The traffic in the centre of Paris is very heavy.
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.
Ces mesures visent à encourager une attitude plus responsable du public envers l’environnement.
These measures are intended to encourage the public to have a more responsible attitude towards the environment.
Je ne peux pas y accéder - je ne connais pas la combinaison.
I can’t get in - I don’t know the combination.
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
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.
Cette émission donne une image totalement fausse de la situation.
This programme gives a totally false picture of the situation.
Une rencontre entre les deux chefs d’Etats est au programme.
A meeting between the two heads of state is on the agenda.
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.
