Gender agreement in French is the grammatical rule that requires adjectives, articles, and some pronouns to match the gender (masculine or feminine) of the nouns they describe. French nouns are either masculine or feminine, and this inherent gender affects how other words in the sentence change their form.
- French has two noun genders: masculine and feminine.
- Adjectives, articles, and pronouns must agree in gender (and number) with the noun.
- Gender agreement is essential for correct grammar and natural-sounding French.
French nouns are always either masculine or feminine. There is no neutral gender in French.
- Masculine nouns often refer to male beings, but also include many inanimate objects.
- Feminine nouns often refer to female beings, but also include many inanimate objects.
- The article (le for masculine, la for feminine) reveals the noun’s gender.
Examples:
- le livre (the book) — masculine
- la table (the table) — feminine
- le garçon (the boy) — masculine
- la fille (the girl) — feminine
Which definite article indicates a feminine noun in French?
la
"la" is the singular definite article used for feminine nouns in French.
Adjectives must match the gender (and number) of the noun they describe. Most adjectives form the feminine by adding -e to the masculine form.
- Masculine singular: standard form (e.g., petit)
- Feminine singular: add -e (e.g., petite)
- Masculine plural: add -s (e.g., petits)
- Feminine plural: add -es (e.g., petites)
Examples:
- un garçon petit (a small boy)
- une fille petite (a small girl)
- des garçons petits (small boys)
- des filles petites (small girls)
Special cases:
- If the masculine form ends in -e, the feminine is usually the same (e.g., mince).
- Some adjectives have irregular feminine forms (e.g., heureux → heureuse).
The definite and indefinite articles must match the gender and number of the noun.
- Definite articles:
- le* (masculine singular)
- la* (feminine singular)
- les* (plural for both genders)
- Indefinite articles:
- un* (masculine singular)
- une* (feminine singular)
- des* (plural for both genders)
Examples:
- le chat (the cat — masculine)
- la chatte (the cat — feminine)
- un chien (a dog — masculine)
- une chienne (a dog — feminine)
- les chiens/chiennes (the dogs — plural)
Subject pronouns don’t show gender (except il and elle), but possessive and demonstrative pronouns must agree in gender and number.
- Possessive pronouns:
- le mien / la mienne* (mine)
- le tien / la tienne* (yours)
- le sien / la sienne* (his/hers)
- Demonstrative pronouns:
- celui* (masculine singular)
- celle* (feminine singular)
- ceux* (masculine plural)
- celles* (feminine plural)
Example:
- C’est ma sœur. La voiture est la sienne.
(This is my sister. The car is hers.)
Many noun endings correlate with a specific gender, which helps predict a noun’s gender. However, there are exceptions.
Tables:
- Masculine noun endings (-eau, -ment, -age)
- Feminine noun endings (-tion, -sion, -ure, -esse)
Some nouns have unexpected genders, and some change meaning depending on their gender.
- le livre* (the book) is masculine
- la livre* (the pound) is feminine
- le poste* (the job/position) is masculine
- la poste* (the post office) is feminine
Both the article and adjective take a plural form, regardless of gender.
- Definite plural article: *les
- Indefive plural article: *des
- Adjective plural ending: -s (masculine and feminine)
Examples:
- les grandes maisons (the big houses)
- des petits chiens (some small dogs)
What is the adjective ending for plural feminine nouns?
-es
Feminine plural adjectives end in -es in French.
- French nouns are masculine or feminine.
- Articles, adjectives, and some pronouns must match the noun’s gender (and number).
- Most feminine adjectives add -e to the masculine form.
- Gender endings can guide you, but watch for exceptions.
- Agreement is key for correct and natural French.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
