French nouns and articlesNouns and articles - gender
A noun is a naming word used for a person, thing, place or idea. The word for ‘the’ or ‘a’ changes depending on the gender of the noun and whether it is singular or plural.
A nounThe name of a thing such as an object, a place or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words. refers to a person, a thing or a concept. Unlike in English, all French nouns have a gender. This means that each noun is masculineAll nouns in French are either masculine or feminine. or feminineAll nouns in French are either masculine or feminine., and any article'A', 'an' and 'the'. accompanying it has to be masculine or feminine too. In English, these articles are ‘the’, ‘a’ (or ‘an’) and 'some'.
masculine
feminine
plural
the
le
la
les
a (or an), some
un
une
des
the
masculine
le
feminine
la
plural
les
a (or an), some
masculine
un
feminine
une
plural
des
An explanation of nouns and gender. Articles used with nouns must always match them for gender and plurality.
Masculine and feminine nouns
All female family members are feminine and all male family members are masculine. For example:
la tante - aunt
la sœur - sister
le grand-père - grandfather
le frère - brother
For job titles, the gender depends on whether it is a man or a woman doing the job. Sometimes the word for the job changes depending on the gender. For example:
Masculine
Feminine
English
le directeur
la directrice
headteacher, director
le coiffeur
la coiffeuse
hairdresser
l’infirmier
l’infirmière
nurse
Masculine
le directeur
Feminine
la directrice
English
headteacher, director
Masculine
le coiffeur
Feminine
la coiffeuse
English
hairdresser
Masculine
l’infirmier
Feminine
l’infirmière
English
nurse
Units of measurement, languages and meals are masculine. For example:
