2.12: Structure - Masculin ou féminin ?
- Page ID
- 107977
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this section, you will learn how to recognize gender in nouns
Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.
On étudie !
Comment reconnaître le genre des noms
We know that all nouns have a gender (masculine or feminine), but it isn't always easy to know the gender of noun. Most nouns ending with -e indicate a feminine gender, but we cannot rely on that all the time. For example, a noun ending in -isme or -ème is masculine. Here are some word endings (or morphemes) that will help you recognize a noun's gender. If you remember these, you will almost always know the gender of any other nouns with the same endings:
| Endings usually masculine | Exemples | Endings usually feminine | Exemples |
|---|---|---|---|
| -eau | un bureau, un manteau | -ette | une fourchette, la chaussette |
| -ment | un département | -ie | la chimie |
| -ent | l'argent | -ion | une position, une télévision |
| -ant | un gant, un enfant | -ance, -ence | la chance, la différence |
| -isme | le réalisme | -ure | la culture, la peinture, la littérature |
| -age | le mariage | -té | la beauté, la réalité |
| -in | le vin, le chemin | -ière | la carrière |
| -ier | un cahier | -ée | une, idée, une épée Exceptions : le lycée, un musée |
| -é | le café, le supermarché Exceptions -té : la beauté |
-ine | la cuisine, l'origine, la copine |
| -ain | le pain, le copain | -ienne, -enne | une musicienne, une antenne |
| -ien | un musicien, le chien | -euse | une chanteuse |
| -eur | un chanteur, un acteur | -trice | une actrice |
| -an | un paysan | -anne | une paysanne |
| -ème | un problème | -emme | la femme |
| -scope | le téléscope | -ssion | la passion, la discussion |
| -phone | le téléphone | -elle | la pelle |
| -o,-ot,-au,-aut,-aud | un escargot, le saut, le crapaud | -erre | la terre |
| -on,-ont,-om,-ond | le ballon, le dragon, le prénom, le plafond | -esse | la sagesse, la promesse |
| -al | un cheval | ||
| -ard | un canard |
Study the Quizlet vocabulary flashcards. Listen and repeat the French pronunciation.
Remember, these general rules work almost all the time. There are always exceptions. Compare, for example, la différence vs. le silence; or le champion (m.) vs. la championne (f.); or l'eau (f.). In some cases you will need to memorize the gender of a noun, For example, the ending -ice could be masculine (le service) or feminine (la justice). For more on gender for people, animals, objects and ideas visit: gender.
(a) If the masculine form ends in a pronounced consonant or an -é, the feminine forme will be pronounced the same exact way:
noir ⇔ noire
fatigué ⇔ fatiguée
(b) If the masculine form ends in a silent consonant, this consonant is pronounced in the feminine form:
petit (silent t) petite (pronounced t)
grand (silent d) grande (pronunced d)
Watch this video tutorial that explains the ending rule: Identify masculine and feminine.
You can read about the push to make French gender-neutral in this article on The Atlantic.
On pratique !
Activité A
Give the correct indefinite article (un or une) for each noun:
- télévision
- appartement
- pharmacie
- quartier
- drapeau
- système
- clarté
- orientation
- facture
- tristesse
- nom
- tourisme
- microscope
- trompette
Activité B
Complétez les phrases avec le bon article défini (le, la, les).
- C'est ____ problème.
- J'aime _____ réalisme magique.
- ____ passion east importante.
- ____ canards sont migons.
- ____ est bleue comme une orange.
On approfondit !
Use the following resources to type accents and/or search for words:
- Accents: ç, à, é, è, â, ê, î, ô, û, ù, ë, ï, ü
- Dictionnaire français-anglais