{"id":117668,"date":"2024-02-15T12:54:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T17:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/french-gender-rules\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T03:39:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T08:39:13","slug":"french-gender-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/french-gender-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Determine French Gender for Masculine and Feminine Nouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Masculin ou f\u00e9minin ? <\/em>(Masculine or feminine?)\u00a0Oh, the woes this question has brought me, you and every other French learner out there.\u00a0While there are no strict rules to memorize and follow, there are some general trends that will help you avoid getting stuck on this question.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is you everything you need to know to master French gender for nouns so you can speak more confidently\u2014and correctly.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=4]
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French Gender and Gender Agreement<\/h2>\n

In French, nouns have grammatical gender, which means they’re classified as masculine or feminine<\/strong>.\u00a0For example:<\/p>\n

Masculine nouns:<\/strong> le livre<\/em> (the book), le chat<\/em>\u00a0(the cat)
\nFeminine nouns:<\/strong> la table<\/em> (the table), la voiture<\/em>\u00a0(the car)<\/p>\n

When you learn a French word, you’ll typically see it paired with either its definite or indefinite article<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>Indefinite articles or \"a\/an\" in English<\/th>Definite articles or \"the\" in English<\/th>Partitive articles or \"some\" in English:<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Masculine<\/b><\/td> un<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> le<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> du<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feminine<\/b><\/td> une<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> la<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> de la<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plural<\/b><\/td> des<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> les<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> des<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

French adjectives and articles must agree with the gender<\/strong> of the noun they modify. If you’re describing a feminine noun with an adjective, both the adjective<\/a> and the article must be in the feminine form. For example:<\/p>\n

Masculine:<\/strong> un beau lac<\/em> (a beautiful lake)
\nFeminine:<\/strong> une belle fleur<\/em> (a beautiful flower)<\/p>\n

In some cases, the verb must also agree with the gender of the subject<\/a> (when it’s a noun) or direct object.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gender agreement is an essential aspect of French grammar needed to construct grammatically correct sentences. To keep genders straight, I recommend that you try to always learn new words with their genders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How to Determine French Gender\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Most French teachers and fellow French speakers will tell you there’s no rhyme or reason to whether a noun is masculine or feminine. While there’s some truth to this, there are some general trends to get most nouns on lock.<\/p>\n

Be aware that there are some tricky counterintuitive noun genders, for example, le f\u00e9minisme<\/em> (feminism) is masculine and la masculinit\u00e9<\/em> (masculinity) is feminine.<\/p>\n

Typical Endings of Masculine Nouns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Looking at the ending of a noun may be the most effective way to determine its gender when you’re stumped.<\/p>\n

Here’s a list of common endings for masculine nouns, but keep in mind that these “rules” don’t apply 100% of the time (as you’ll see from the exceptions).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Noun Ending<\/th>Examples<\/th>Exceptions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
-ant, -ent<\/i><\/b><\/td> le restaurant<\/i> <\/a>\n (restaurant), le pr\u00e9sident<\/i> <\/a>\n (president)<\/td> la dent<\/i> <\/a>\n (tooth), la jument<\/i> <\/a>\n (mare)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-eur<\/i><\/b><\/td> le professeur <\/i> <\/a>\n (teacher), le danseur<\/i> <\/a>\n (dancer)<\/td> la fleur<\/i> <\/a>\n (flower), la couleur<\/i> <\/a>\n (color)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-ien<\/i><\/b><\/td> le musicien<\/i> <\/a>\n (musician), le chien<\/i> <\/a>\n (dog)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-oir<\/i><\/b><\/td> le devoir<\/i> <\/a>\n (duty), le miroir<\/i> <\/a>\n (mirror)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-on<\/i><\/b><\/td> le ballon<\/i> <\/a>\n (balloon), le bouton<\/i> <\/a>\n (button)<\/td> la nation<\/i> <\/a>\n (nation), la boisson<\/i> <\/a>\n (drink)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-ot<\/i><\/b><\/td> le robot<\/i> <\/a>\n (robot), le chat<\/i> <\/a>\n (cat)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Consonant + s<\/i><\/b><\/td> le fils<\/i> <\/a>\n (son), le laps<\/i> <\/a>\n (lapse)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Typical Endings of Feminine Nouns\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Here are some common endings for feminine nouns in French. Again, you can’t rely on them all the time, but I still find them useful for determining the gender of many French nouns.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Noun Ending<\/th>Examples<\/th>Exceptions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
-ance,
\n-ence<\/i><\/b><\/td>		 la chance<\/i> <\/a>\n (luck), la pr\u00e9sence<\/i> <\/a>\n (presence)<\/td> le silence<\/i> <\/a>\n (silence)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-e<\/i><\/b><\/td> la table<\/i> <\/a>\n (table), la robe<\/i> <\/a>\n (dress)<\/td> le livre<\/i> <\/a>\n (book), le lobe<\/i> <\/a>\n (earlobe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-ie, -ue<\/i><\/b><\/td> la vie<\/i> <\/a>\n (life), la rue<\/i> <\/a>\n (street)<\/td> le g\u00e9nie<\/i> <\/a>\n (genius), l'incendie<\/i> <\/a>\n (fire)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-ion<\/i><\/b><\/td> la nation<\/i> <\/a>\n (nation), la d\u00e9cision<\/i> <\/a>\n (decision)<\/td> le million<\/i> <\/a>\n (million), le bastion<\/i> <\/a>\n (stronghold)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-t\u00e9<\/i><\/b><\/td> la beaut\u00e9<\/i> <\/a>\n (beauty), la v\u00e9rit\u00e9<\/i> <\/a>\n (truth)<\/td> le comt\u00e9<\/i> <\/a>\n (county), le c\u00f4t\u00e9<\/i> <\/a>\n (side)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Masculine and Feminine Noun Categories<\/h3>\n

Certain categories of nouns tend to be masculine or feminine. The gender of the noun category will usually match the gender of the nouns in that category as well.<\/p>\n

For example, since un mois<\/strong><\/em> (a month)<\/strong> is masculine, names of specific months, such as d\u00e9cembre<\/em><\/strong> (December)<\/strong>, are masculine as well.<\/p>\n

Here are some more common examples of masculine noun categories<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Noun Category<\/th>Examples<\/th>Exceptions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Languages<\/b><\/td> le fran\u00e7ais<\/i> <\/a>\n (French), l'espagnol<\/i> <\/a>\n (Spanish)<\/td> une langue<\/i> <\/a>\n (a language) is feminine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seasons<\/b><\/td> le printemps<\/i> <\/a>\n (spring), l'hiver<\/i> <\/a>\n (winter)<\/td> une saison<\/i> <\/a>\n (a season) is feminine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Planes<\/b><\/td> un avion<\/i> <\/a>\n (a plane), le Concorde<\/i> <\/a>\n (Concorde)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cheeses<\/b><\/td> le fromage<\/i> <\/a>\n (cheese), le Roquefort<\/i> <\/a>\n (Roquefort)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Here are some examples of feminine noun categories<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Noun Category<\/th>Examples<\/th>Exceptions<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Fruits<\/b><\/td> une banane<\/i> <\/a>\n (a banana), une pomme<\/i> <\/a>\n \u00a0(an apple)<\/td> un fruit<\/i> <\/a>\n (a fruit)\u00a0is masculine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scientific fields<\/b><\/td> la science<\/i> <\/a>\n (science), la physique<\/i> <\/a>\n (physics)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seas<\/b><\/td> la mer<\/i> <\/a>\n (the sea), la M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e<\/i> <\/a>\n (the Mediterranean)<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Places<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Continents and planets in French are feminine. For example, l\u2019Asie<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(Asia) and la Terre<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(Earth).<\/p>\n

Countries that end in <\/strong>-e <\/strong><\/em>are generally feminine<\/strong>. For example, la France<\/em> (France) and la Suisse<\/em> (Switzerland).<\/p>\n

Countries that end in a different vowel or a consonant <\/strong>are\u00a0generally masculine<\/strong>. For example, le Canada<\/em> (Canada) and le Japon<\/em> (Japan).\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is a pretty standard rule with only a handful of exceptions, noted below:<\/p>\n

le Mexique<\/em><\/strong> (Mexico)
\nle B\u00e9lize<\/em><\/strong> (Belize)
\nle Cambodge<\/strong><\/em> (Cambodia)
\nle Mozambique<\/em><\/strong> (Mozambique)
\nl<\/strong>e Za\u00efre<\/strong><\/em> (Zaire)
\nle Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/em> (Zimbabwe)<\/p>\n

Derivative Nouns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nouns derived from a verb \u2014 referring to something or someone carrying out that verb’s action \u2014 typically use the ending\u00a0<\/strong>-eur<\/strong>, <\/em>and\u00a0will be masculine<\/strong>. For example:<\/p>\n

l’<\/em>aspirateur<\/em><\/strong> (the vacuum)
\nl’ordinateur<\/strong><\/em> (the computer)<\/p>\n

Nouns that are derived from adjectives and end with –<\/strong>eur<\/strong>\u00a0<\/i>are feminine. For example:<\/p>\n

la<\/em>\u00a0rougeur<\/em><\/strong> (the redness)
\nla largeur<\/em><\/strong> (the width)
\nla p\u00e2leur<\/em><\/strong> (the paleness)<\/p>\n

Nouns with Masculine and Feminine Forms<\/h3>\n

Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n

When talking about certain animals in French, you refer to the male version of the species with a masculine noun and the female of the species with a feminine noun. For example:<\/p>\n

un\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00e9talon<\/strong><\/i> (a stallion) \/ un cerf<\/em><\/strong> (a stag)
\nun lion<\/em><\/strong> (a male lion) \/ une lionne<\/em><\/strong> (a female lion\/lioness)<\/p>\n

Although, some nouns for animals refer to both genders. For example:\u00a0<\/p>\n

une<\/strong>\u00a0souris<\/strong><\/em> (a mouse)
\nun\u00a0cheval<\/em><\/strong> (a horse)<\/p>\n

Job Titles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most job titles have both a masculine and feminine form.\u00a0Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
English Job Title<\/th>Masculine Form<\/th>Feminine Form<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
an actor<\/td> un acteur<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une actrice<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a baker<\/td> un boulanger<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une boulang\u00e8re<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a nurse<\/td> un infirmier<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une infirmi\u00e8re<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a cashier<\/td> un caissier<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une caissi\u00e8re<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a lawyer<\/td> un avocat<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une avocate<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a pharmacist<\/td> un pharmacien<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une pharmacienne<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a student<\/td> un \u00e9tudiant<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une \u00e9tudiante<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a waiter<\/td> un serveur<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une serveuse<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
an engineer<\/td> un ing\u00e9nieur<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une ing\u00e9nieure<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a painter<\/td> un peintre<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td> une peintre<\/i> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Un\u00a0professeur<\/strong><\/em> (a teacher) and u<\/strong>n \u00e9crivain<\/strong><\/em> (a writer) are usually only employed in the masculine.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0<\/i>une chef\u00a0<\/i>(a chef) is commonly accepted in Switzerland and Francophone Quebec, only un chef<\/strong><\/em> is generally used in France.<\/p>\n

Quiz on Gender of French Nouns<\/h2>\n

Now that we’ve gone over all the basics about the gender of French nouns and the patterns they follow, it’s time to test what you’ve learned!<\/p>\n

Take the quiz below (without looking at the answers above!) and just refresh the page if you want to start over or retake it.\u00a0<\/p>\n