Toolbox | Trousse
Gender | Le genre
In French, all nouns have a masculine or feminine gender.
Note: Throughout this site, an ‘m.’ is used to designate the masculine gender of words and an ‘f.’ is used to designate the feminine gender of words.
le masculin (m.) ou le féminin (f.) | masculine or feminine
Please click on the text in the examples below to hear an audio sample.
For example | Par exemple:
|
These
nouns are masculine
(m.): un
chat (m.)
| a cat/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_chat.mp3
le frère (m.)| the
brother/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_frere.mp3
un
pupitre (m.)| a
desk/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_pupitre.mp3
le
bonheur (m.)
| happiness/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_bonheur.mp3 |
These
nouns are feminine
(f.):
une
pomme (f.)
| an apple/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_pomme.mp3
la
grand-mère (f.)
| the grand-mother /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_grand-mere.mp3
une
école (f.)
| a school /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_ecole.mp3
la
tristesse (f.)
| sadness /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_tristesse.mp3 |
Gender Assignment | L’assignation du genre
For nouns referring to human beings and some animals, the assignment of gender is generated by the entity’s natural gender or sex (male or female).
For example | Par exemple:
|
These nouns are masculine
(m.)
by natural gender or sex: le
père (m.)| the
father/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_pere.mp3
un
monsieur (m.)
| a man/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_monsieur.mp3
le
cousin (m.)| the (male) cousin/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_cousin.mp3
le
boulanger (m.)
| the (male) baker/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_boulanger.mp3
un
chien (m.)
| a (male) dog/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_chien.mp3
le
coq (m.)
| the rooster/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_coq.mp3
un
taureau (m.)
| a bull/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_taureau.mp3 |
These nouns are feminine
(f.)
by natural gender or sex: une
mère (f.)| a
mother/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_mere.mp3
la
dame (f.)
| the lady/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_dame.mp3
une
cousine (f.)| a
(female) cousin/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_cousine.mp3
la
boulangère (f.)
| the
(female) baker/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_boulangere.mp3
la
chienne (f.)| the (female) dog/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_chienne.mp3
une
poule (f.)| a
chicken/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_poule.mp3
la
vache (f.)| the cow/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_vache.mp3 |
For nouns referring to non-living things, plants and most animals, the assignment of gender is random. There is seldom an established link between the gender and the meaning of words. The gender in this grouping is said to be grammatical (masculine or feminine). Grammatical gender is attributed regardless of biological gender or sex.
For example | Par exemple:
|
These nouns have a
masculine
(m.)
grammatical gender: le
crayon (m.)
| the pencil/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_crayon.mp3
un
arbre (m.)
| a tree/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_arbre.mp3
le
bras (m.)
| the arm/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_bras.mp3
un
mot (m.)
| a word/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_mot.mp3
le
soleil (m.)
| the sun/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_soleil.mp3
un
papillon (m.)
| a butterfly/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_papillon.mp3 |
These nouns have a feminine
(f.)
grammatical gender: une
craie (f.)
| a chalk/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_craie.mp3
l’herbe
(f.)
| the
grass/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/lherbe.mp3
une
jambe (f.)
| a leg/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_jambe.mp3
la
phrase (f.)
| the sentence/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_phrase.mp3
la
lune (f.)
| the moon/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/la_lune.mp3
une
mouche (f.)
| a fly/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/une_mouche.mp3 |
Gender Agreement | L’accord du genre
Gender has a fundamental role to play in French grammar, as many parts of speech have different forms based on gender. Adjectives, determiners/articles, nouns, pronouns, and verbs must agree in gender (masculine or feminine).
For example
| Par exemple: adjectives: Pierre-Oh
est aussi grand
que
Pierrette. | Pierre-Oh
is as tall
as Pierrette. Pierrette
est aussi grande
que Pierre-Oh. | Pierrette
is as tall
as Pierre-Oh. pronouns: Il
(Pierre-Oh[m.])
aime la natation.
|
He
(Pierre-Oh)
likes swimming. Elle
(Pierrette
[f.])
aime le hockey.
|
She
(Pierrette)
likes hockey. verbs: Pierre-Oh
est
allé
(m.)
au cinéma avec
ses amis. | Pierre-Oh
went to the movies
with his friends. Pierrette
est
allée
(f.)
au cinéma avec ses cousines. | Pierrette went
to the movies with her
cousins.
Learning Word Gender | L’apprentissage du genre des mots
The most effective way to learn the gender of a noun is to learn the gender as part of the word. When learning new vocabulary or terms, it is helpful to specifically memorize the correct articles or determiners that precede the words. Articles and determiners agree in gender with the nouns/words that they modify and reveal their gender.
For example | Par exemple:
When nouns are preceded by the article le or un, or the determiners mon, son or ce they are masculine words.
Le livre et le cahier sont rangés dans le sac à dos.| The book and the notebook are in the backpack.
Il y a un crayon rouge et un stylo vert dans le coffre à crayons. | There is a red pencil and a green pen in the pencil case.
Ce garçon a mon téléphone cellulaire dans son sac à dos.| This/That boy has my cell phone in his backpack.
When nouns are preceded by the article la or une, or the determiners ma, sa or cette they are feminine words.
Nous avons trouvé la clé de la porte d'entrée. | We found the key to the front door.
J’ai une poire et une banane dans ma boîte à dîner. | I have a pear and a banana in my lunch box.
Cette fille a ma bague dans sa poche. | This/That girl has my ring in her pocket.
General Rules: From Masculine to Feminine |
Les règles générales : du masculin au féminin
In general to form the feminine of a word:
add an 'e'
to the masculine form le
texte
court la
jupe
courte
the short text the short skirt /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_texte_court.mp3 un
foulard
bleu une écharpe
bleue a blue scarf a blue scarf/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_foulard_bleu.mp3 |
un
étudiant une
étudiante
a male student a female student/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_etudiant.mp3 un
ami une
amie a male friend a female friend/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_ami.mp3 |
words ending in 'x' change to 'se'un
temps
heureux une expérience
heureuse
a happy time a happy experience /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_temps_heureux.mp3 un
serpent
peureux une chatte
peureuse a fearful snake a fearful female cat /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_serpent_peureux.mp3 |
un
époux une
épouse a husband a wife/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_epoux.mp3 |
Exceptions:un
faux document
une note
fausse
a false document a false note/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_faux_document.mp3 le
chiffon
doux la peau
douce
the soft cloth the soft skin/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_chiffon_doux.mp3 |
le
cheveu
roux la poule
rousse
the red hair the red hen/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_cheveu_roux.mp3 le
vieux bateau la
vieille
dame
the old boat the old lady/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_vieux_bateau.mp3 |
words ending in 's' add an 'se'le
niveau
bas la
basse
fréquence
the lower level the low frequency/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_niveau_bas.mp3 un
mot en caractère
gras une matière
grasse the word in bold face a fatty substance/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_mot_en_caractere_gras.mp3 |
le
morceau
épais la couche
épaisse the thick piece the thick layer/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_morceau_epais.mp3 |
Exceptions:le
ciment gris
la maison
grise the grey cement the grey house/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_cimont_gris.mp3 |
le
pain frais
la crème
fraîche the fresh bread the fresh cream/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_pain_frais.mp3 |
words ending in 'il', 'el', and 'eil' change to 'ille', 'elle', and 'eille'
|
un
peuple
gentil une
gentille
famille
a kind people a nice family/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_peuple_gentil.mp3 un
massacre
cruel une peine
cruelle
a cruel slaughter a cruel punishment/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_massacre_cruel.mp3 un
prix
réel une œuvre
réelle an actual price a real work of art/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_prix_reel.mp3 |
un
enjeu
pareil une chose
pareille
such an issue such a thing/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_enjeu_pareil.mp3 le
colonel la
colonelle
the male colonel the female colonel/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_colonel.mp3 |
words ending in 'et' change to 'ette' and 'ète'
|
le
cinéma
muet la carte
muette
the silent film the blank map /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_cinema_muet.mp3 un
raisin
violet une encre
violette a violet grape a violet ink/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_raisin_violet.mp3 |
un
message
secret une enquête
secrète
a secret message an undercover investigation/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_message_secret.mp3 un
problème
concret une réalisation
concrète a specific problem a concrete implementation/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_probleme_concret.mp3 |
words ending in 'en' change to 'enne'
|
un
étudiant parisien une
étudiante
parisienne
a male Parisian student a female Parisian student/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_etudiant_parisien.mp3 un
transport aérien une
compagnie aérienne
air transport an airline company/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_transport_aerien.mp3 un
physicien une
physicienne a male physician a female physician/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_physicien.mp3 |
un
chien une
chienne
a male dog a female dog/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_chien-2.mp3 un
Canadien une
Canadienne
a male Canadian a female Canadian/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_canadien.mp3 un
Européen une
Européenne a male European a female European/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_europeen.mp3 |
words ending in 'on' change to 'onne'
|
le
mignon village la
mignonne
créature
the cute village the cute creature/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_mignon_village.mp3 un
champion une
championne a male champion a female champion/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_champion.mp3 |
un
lion une
lionne a lion a lioness/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_lion.mp3 |
words ending in 'er' change to 'ère'
|
un
ami
cher une amie
chère
a dear male friend a dear female friend/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_ami_cher.mp3 un
vélo
cher une voiture
chère
an expensive bicycle an expensive car/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_velo_cher.mp3 le
groupe fier l’équipe
fière the proud group the proud team/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_groupe_fier.mp3 |
un
cœur
léger une
légère
augmentation
a light heart a slight increase/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_coeur_leger.mp3 un
écolier une
écolière
a male student a female student/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_ecolier.mp3 un
ouvrier une
ouvrière a male worker a female worker/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_ouvrier.mp3 |
words ending in 'f 'change to 've'
|
un
jean
neuf une ceinture
neuve
a new pair of jeans a new belt/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_jean_neuf.mp3 un
bleu
vif une couleur
vive a bright blue a bright color/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_bleu_vif.mp3 |
un
bref délai une
brève
échéance
a short period of time a short term/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_bref_delai.mp3 un
esprit
sportif une émission
sportive a spirit of sportsmanship a sports program/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_esprit_sportif.mp3 |
words ending in 'c' change to 'che' or 'que'
|
le
fromage
blanc la farine
blanche
the white cheese the white flour/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_fromage_blanc.mp3 l’endroit
sec la saison
sèche
the dry area the dry season/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/lendroit_sec.mp3 un
témoignage
franc une explication
franche a truthful testimony an honest explanation /toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_temoignage_franc.mp3 |
le
secteur
public la santé
publique
the public sector the public health/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_secteur_public.mp3 le
peuple
grec la langue
grecque
the Greek people the Greek language/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_peuple_grec.mp3 le
citoyen
turc la population
turque the Turkish citizen the Turkish population/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_citoyen_turc.mp3 |
words ending in 'g' change to 'gue'
|
un
long métrage une
longue
durée a full-length movie a long period/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_long_metrage.mp3 |
|
words ending in 'gu' add an 'ë'
|
un
sens
aigu une douleur
aiguë
a keen sense a sharp pain/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_sens_aigu.mp3 |
un
mot
ambigu une réponse
ambiguë an ambiguous word an ambiguous answer/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_mot_ambigu.mp3 |
words ending in 'eur' change to 'euse'
(when that word can be made into a present participle by adding ant: rêveur (rêver) rêvant |rêveur rêveuse ).|
un
sourire rêveur une personne
rêveuse
a dreamy smile a day dreaming person/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_sourire_reveu.mp3 le
lecteur
songeur la lectrice
songeuse a pensive male reader a pensive female reader/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/le_lecteur_songeur.mp3 |
un
danseur une
danseuse
a male dancer a female dancer/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_danseur.mp3 un
patineur une
patineuse a male skater a female skater/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_patineur.mp3 |
words ending in 'eur' change to 'eure'
(when that word cannot be made into a present participle or when the word is an adjective of comparison)|
un
meilleur ami une
meilleure
amie
a male best friend a female best friend/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_meilleur_ami.mp3 un
rendement
supérieur un
technologie supérieure a superior performance a superior technology/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_rendement_superieur.mp3 |
un
niveau
inférieur une qualité
inférieure
a lower level an inferior quality/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_niveau_inferieur.mp3 un
mineur une
mineure a male minor a female minor/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_mineur.mp3 |
words ending in 'teur' change to 'teuse'
(when that word can be made into a present participle by adding ant: chanteur (chanter) chantant | chanteur chanteuse).|
un
chanteur une
chanteuse a male singer a female singer/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_chanteur.mp3 |
un
sauteur une
sauteuse a male jumper a female jumper/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_sauteur.mp3 |
words ending in 'teur' change to 'trice'
(when that word cannot made into a present participle).|
un
modèle
novateur une
approche novatrice
an innovative model an innovative approach/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_modele_novateur.mp3 l’oiseau
migrateur l’espèce
migratrice a migratory bird the migratory species/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/loiseau_migrateur.mp3 |
un
directeur une
directrice
a male director a female director/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_directeur.mp3 un
consommateur un
consommatrice a male consumer a female consumer/toolbox/gender_number/gender/audio/un_consommateur.mp3 |
