Gender is a fundamental aspect of French grammar that classifies nouns as either masculine or feminine. Understanding gender is essential for correct article usage, adjective agreement, and overall sentence structure.
In French, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine or feminine. This gender affects not only the noun itself but also the articles, adjectives, and pronouns used with it.
- French has two genders: masculine (le, un) and feminine (la, une).
- Noun endings often indicate gender, but there are exceptions.
- All accompanying words (articles, adjectives) must agree in gender.
Gender Rules
Here’s a summary of common patterns for noun endings and their typical genders. These are guidelines, and there are exceptions.
| Ending | Typical Gender | Example (Singular) | Example (Plural) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -e (most) | Feminine | la table | les tables |
| -ion | Feminine | la maison | les maisons |
| -té | Feminine | la liberté | les libertés |
| -ade | Feminine | la promenade | les promenades |
| -ance | Feminine | la chance | les chances |
| -ette | Feminine | la fillette | les fillettes |
| -ment | Masculine | le bâtiment | les bâtiments |
| -eau | Masculine | le chapeau | les chapeaux |
| -age | Masculine | le garage | les garages |
| -isme | Masculine | le tourisme | les tourismes |
| -oir | Masculine | le miroir | les miroirs |
Which of the following endings is typically masculine in French?
-age
The ending '-age' is typically masculine in French, as seen in words like 'le garage.'
Articles and Gender
French articles must match the gender and number of the noun.
| Number | Masculine | Feminine | Example (Masc.) | Example (Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | le, un | la, une | le livre, un livre | la chaise, une chaise |
| Plural | les, des | les, des | les livres, des livres | les chaises, des chaises |
Note: In plural, the definite article is always les, regardless of gender.
Adjective Agreement
Adjectives in French change to agree with the noun’s gender and number.
| Gender/Number | Adjective Form | Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | - | garçon intelligent | smart boy |
| Feminine Singular | + -e | fille intelligente | smart girl |
| Masculine Plural | + -s | garçons intelligents | smart boys |
| Feminine Plural | + -es | filles intelligentes | smart girls |
Note: Some adjectives have irregular feminine forms.
Exceptions and Irregularities
While many nouns follow the rules above, some are exceptions.
- Masculine nouns ending in -e: le musée (museum), le lycée (high school)
- Feminine nouns not ending in -e: la mer (sea), la voix (voice)
- Same form for masculine and feminine: un artiste / une artiste (artist)
Pronouns and Gender
Subject pronouns do not change based on the noun’s gender, but other pronouns do:
| Subject | Object | Possessive (Singular) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| il (he) | le / lui | son (m.) | Il a son livre. |
| elle (she) | la / lui | sa (f.) | Elle a sa chaise. |
Which possessive adjective would a masculine singular noun have in French?
son
Masculine singular nouns take the possessive adjective 'son' (e.g., son livre).
Summary
- All French nouns have a gender: masculine or feminine.
- Gender affects articles, adjectives, and pronouns.
- Use noun endings as a guideline, but memorize exceptions.
- Practice with context to internalize gender usage.
Understanding gender is the first step to mastering French grammar. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Gender/Number: Masculine Singular
- Adjective Form: -
- Example: garçon intelligent
- English Example: smart boy
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
