Definite Articles
Definite articles in French mark a specific noun and must agree in gender and number with that noun. They also sometimes contract with prepositions.
Basic Forms
The basic French definite articles are le for masculine singular, la for feminine singular, and les for plural. Use l' before a vowel or mute h regardless of gender.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | Definite Article |
|---|---|---|
| livre | book | le |
| table | table | la |
| étudiants | students | les |
| hôtel | hotel | l' |
| amie | friend | l' |
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Usage
Definite articles are used in French to talk about things in a general sense, things that are known, and things that recur. They also appear before nouns used as categories.
| French Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 📖 Le livre sur la table est à moi. | The book on the table is mine. | Specific item known to speaker and listener |
| 🪑 La chaise est cassée. | The chair is broken. | Specific item identified by context |
| 🌳 Les arbres du parc sont fleuris. | The trees in the park are flowering. | Specific items in a defined group |
| 🥖 L’enfant mange du pain. | The child is eating (some) bread. | Generalizing with singular noun starting with vowel |
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Partitive and Contracted Articles
The partitive article expresses an unspecified amount and forms more articles with prepositions. The definite article contracts with de and à when followed by le.
| Type | Preposition | French Article | English Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definite | |||
| Definite | à | à + le = au | to the (m) |
| Definite | à | à + la = à la | to the (f) |
| Definite | à | à + l' = à l' | to the (vowel/h) |
| Definite | à | à + les = aux | to the (pl) |
| Definite | de | de + le = du | of the / from the (m) |
| Definite | de | de + la = de la | of the / from the (f) |
| Definite | de | de + l' = de l' | of the / from the (vowel/h) |
| Definite | de | de + les = des | of the / from the (pl) |
| Partitive | |||
| Partitive | du | some (m) | |
| Partitive | de la | some (f) | |
| Partitive | de l' | some (vowel/h) | |
| Partitive | des | some (pl) |
| French Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 🍞 Je prends du pain. | I’m having some bread. | Partitive, masculine singular |
| 🧀 Elle mange de la fromagerie. | She is eating (some from the) cheese shop. | Literal (rare), usually partitive context |
| 🏪 Je vais à la boulangerie. | I’m going to the bakery. | Definite article with place |
| 🌇 Je marche au parc. | I’m walking to the park. | Contraction of à + le |
| 🏠 Ils parlent des voisins. | They are talking about the neighbors. | Contraction of de + les |
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Special Uses
In French, the definite article is used where English might omit it, such as before meals, days of the week when talking about habitual actions, and languages when they function as subjects or objects. It also appears before abstract nouns.
| French Example | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ⏰ Le lundi, je fais du sport. | On Mondays, I exercise. | Generic time with article |
| 🐶 J’aime le chien. | I like dogs. | Generalization with article |
| 🗣️ Il a dit la vérité. | He told the truth. | Fixed expression |
| 🧴 Elle porte les valises. | She is carrying the suitcases. | Known specific items |
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Summary
Definite articles in French signal a specific or known noun and agree in gender and number. Learn the basic forms, notice contractions with prepositions, and remember that French uses the definite article in places where English often does not.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025