A1 French GrammarNoun Gender
Understand French noun genders (masculine and feminine) and learn common patterns to identify gender from word endings.
1Masculine Noun Endings
Many French nouns have predictable genders based on their endings. Common masculine endings include -age, -ment, -eau.
Common Masculine Endings
| Ending | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| -age | le voyage | the trip |
| -ment | le moment | the moment |
| -eau | le gâteau | the cake |
| -isme | le tourisme | tourism |
| -eur | le bonheur | happiness |
Examples
Le fromage est délicieux.
The cheese is delicious.
-age = masculine
Le gouvernement décide.
The government decides.
-ment = masculine
Le chapeau est noir.
The hat is black.
-eau = masculine
Le problème est grave.
The problem is serious.
-ème = masculine
2Feminine Noun Endings
Common feminine endings include -tion, -sion, -té, -ette, and -ure. Most nouns ending in -e are feminine.
Common Feminine Endings
| Ending | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| -tion | la nation | the nation |
| -té | la liberté | freedom |
| -ette | la recette | the recipe |
| -ure | la voiture | the car |
| -ence/-ance | la différence | the difference |
Examples
La situation est difficile.
The situation is difficult.
-tion = feminine
La beauté est subjective.
Beauty is subjective.
-té = feminine
La nature est belle.
Nature is beautiful.
-ure = feminine
La patience est importante.
Patience is important.
-ence = feminine
3Gender by Meaning
Some noun categories have predictable genders: days, months, seasons, languages, and trees are masculine; sciences and continents are feminine.
Gender by Category
| Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|
| Days: le lundi | Sciences: la physique |
| Months: le janvier | Continents: l'Europe |
| Seasons: le printemps | Countries ending -e: la France |
| Languages: le français | Stores: la boulangerie |
Examples
Le samedi, je me repose.
On Saturdays, I rest.
days = masculine
J'Ă©tudie la biologie.
I study biology.
sciences = feminine
Le français est beau.
French is beautiful.
languages = masculine
L'Afrique est grande.
Africa is big.
continents = feminine
4Irregular Genders
Some common words have unexpected genders that must be memorized. A few words even change meaning with gender.
Common Exceptions
| Word | Gender | English |
|---|---|---|
| le problème | masculine | the problem |
| le musée | masculine | the museum |
| la main | feminine | the hand |
| la plage | feminine | the beach |
Examples
Le musée est fermé.
The museum is closed.
-Ă©e but masculine
La plage est belle.
The beach is beautiful.
-age but feminine
J'ai mal Ă la main.
My hand hurts.
la main = feminine
Le groupe arrive.
The group is arriving.
-oupe but masculine