Gender Nuances

Masculine nouns often end in consonants or certain vowel patterns, and they take articles like le and un. They govern adjective forms and agreement in predictable ways.

Feminine nouns often end in -e or specific suffixes, and they take articles like la and une. Adjectives agree in gender, usually by adding -e, and feminine forms can change meaning.

Some nouns break the usual ending patterns, and a few change meaning when gender changes. Learners should memorize common exceptions and pay attention to article cues.

In some pairs, switching gender changes the word's meaning entirely, so you must use the correct gender to convey the right thing. These pairs are often short and common.

Definite, indefinite, and partitive articles agree with noun gender, and elision can occur when a feminine noun begins with a vowel sound. Articles signal gender and sometimes nuance.

Adjectives must agree in gender (and number) with the noun they modify; the feminine form is often created by adding -e, but there are irregular adjective pairs to learn. Agreement affects meaning and style.

Gender is a fundamental part of French grammar that influences articles, adjectives, and sometimes meaning. Paying attention to endings, learning exceptions, and practicing with nouns will build intuitive sense.