Language/French/Grammar/Often-Mistaken-Gender-of-Nouns
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French Nouns Genders
French nouns are either masculine or feminine. Masculine nouns use the pronouns "le" and "un" while feminine nouns use "la" and "une".
Gender in the French language is a confusing system for English speakers or non-native speakers. Not to mention that there are divergences in this same linguistic family: “água” is feminine in French, Portuguese and Italian, for example, but masculine in Spanish.
For the list of nouns in the table below, English speakers often use the wrong gender. A word of advice, learn this list by heart!
Often Mistaken MASCULINE nouns
English | French |
---|---|
choice | le choix |
character/temperament | le caractère |
crime | le crime |
group | le groupe |
exodus | l'exode |
lack, lacuna | le manque |
a vegetable | un légume |
merit | le mérite |
the parachute | le parachute |
the umbrella | le parapluie |
silence | le silence |
Often Mistaken FEMININE nouns
English | French |
---|---|
a cross | une croix |
a type, a kind | une espèce |
the end | la fin |
the forest | la forêt |
the nut | la noix |
the screw | la vis |
Video - French Genders: Rules for Masculine / Feminine Words
French nouns are gendered but this does not follow any particular rule or logic. In this episode, you will learn how to easily identify whether a name is masculine or feminine, and you will also learn how to apply the rules.
Gender of Nouns (all lessons)
Other Chapters