Definite articles point to specific things and must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. They also signal when you're talking about something known or general.
Forms
French has four definite articles: le, la, l’ for singular nouns and les for plurals. Use l’ before a vowel or mute h regardless of gender.
| French Definite Article | English Equivalent | |
|---|---|---|
| le | the (masc. sing.) | |
| la | the (fem. sing.) | |
| l’ | the (sing. before vowel/h) | |
| les | the (plural) |
The cat is on the sofa.
Usage
Use the definite article when referring to something specific, when talking about things in general, or when mentioning things by category. It also appears with days, languages, and body parts in certain expressions.
General
Use the definite article to talk about things in general, like when mentioning a category or an activity.
Specific
Use the definite article when referring to a particular item that is known to the speaker and listener.
Languages
Use the definite article before names of languages except when they directly follow parler or certain other verbs and expressions.
Days and Times
Use the definite article with days of the week when talking about habitual actions or when specifying a day.
Body Parts
Use the definite article in expressions about body parts, especially with reflexive verbs, instead of a possessive adjective.
Summary
The definite article signals specificity and category, must match gender and number, and appears in set expressions with languages, days, and body parts. Practice identifying when to use le, la, l’, and les to make your meaning clear.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025