Definite articles in French—le, la, les, and l’—are used to talk about specific things or things that are already known or have been mentioned. They correspond to the English word "the" but must agree with the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they modify.
Forms
Summary of French definite articles and when to use each:
| Form | Used With | Example | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| le | Masculine singular noun | le livre | the book |
| la | Feminine singular noun | la table | the table |
| l’ | Singular noun (masc. or fem.) starting with a vowel or mute h | l’ami, l’hôtel | the friend, the hotel |
| les | Plural noun (masc. or fem.) | les enfants | the children |
Usage
Explanation of when to use definite articles in French:
- Talking about something specific or already known
- J’ai lu le livre. (I read the book.) — the book is known or specific.
- Talking about something in a general sense or all of a kind
- Les chats sont mignons. (Cats are cute.) — cats in general.
- Before days of the week to talk about habitual actions
- Je travaille le lundi. (I work on Mondays.)
- Before parts of the body or clothing (when used with reflexive verbs)
- Elle se lave les mains. (She washes her hands.)
- Before countries, geographical names, and some proper nouns
- Je viens de la France. (I come from France.)
Special Cases
Details on special rules involving definite articles:
- Elision (using l’)
- Use l’ before singular nouns that start with a vowel or mute h
- Examples: l’homme, l’école
- Plural form les is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns
- Examples: les garçons, les filles
- Geography and proper nouns
- Most countries have a definite article (le, la, les)
- Exceptions: Israël, Cuba (no article)
Do plural nouns in French use separate masculine and feminine definite articles?
No, they all use les regardless of gender.
The plural definite article **les** is used for both masculine and feminine nouns in the plural form.
Examples
Examples showing definite articles in context:
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Je prends le train. | I take the train. |
| La mer est calme. | The sea is calm. |
| Nous aimons les fleurs. | We love the flowers. |
| L’oiseau chante. | The bird is singing. |
| Elle porte la robe rouge. | She is wearing the red dress. |
Which definite article correctly completes the sentence? « Nous aimons ___ fleurs. » (fleurs = plural)
les
“Fleurs” is plural, so the plural article **les** is used.
Summary
- Use le for masculine singular nouns (the book → le livre)
- Use la for feminine singular nouns (the table → la table)
- Use l’ before singular nouns starting with a vowel or mute h (the friend → l’ami)
- Use les for all plural nouns, masculine or feminine (the children → les enfants)
- Definite articles are used for specific items, general truths, habitual actions on certain days, parts of the body, and some geographical names.
Flashcards (1 of 9)
- Form: le
- Used With: Masculine singular noun
- Example: le livre
- English Equivalent: the book
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
