🏷️ Section 1
Gender Basics
French nouns are either masculine (le/un) or feminine (la/une). Gender affects articles, adjectives, pronouns, and past participle agreement — it touches almost everything.
Two genders, no exceptions: Unlike German (3 genders) or English (none), French has exactly two. The article is the most reliable signal: le/un = masculine, la/une = feminine.
The bad news: there's no logical system that works 100% of the time. The good news: the ending patterns below are right about 80% of the time.
The bad news: there's no logical system that works 100% of the time. The good news: the ending patterns below are right about 80% of the time.
le livre · le soleil · le garçon
the book · the sun · the boy — masculine
la table · la lune · la fille
the table · the moon · the girl — feminine
l'ami (m.) · l'amie (f.)
the friend (m.) · the friend (f.) — gender hidden by elision
When l' is used, gender is only visible in adjectives or when the article changes
Best strategy: Always learn a new noun with its article — not chat but le chat. Not maison but la maison. The article becomes part of the word.
🔵 Section 2
Masculine Patterns
These endings are typically masculine. Not guaranteed — but reliable enough to be useful.
Typically Masculine endings
-agele fromage, le garage, le voyage
-mentle gouvernement, le moment
-eurle bonheur, le vendeur, l'honneur
-ismele tourisme, le socialisme
-eaule bateau, le château, le chapeau
-phone/-scopele téléphone, le microscope
Common masculine nouns
Daysle lundi, le mardi…
Monthsle janvier, le mars…
Languagesle français, le chinois…
Seasonsle printemps, l'été, l'hiver
Masc. countriesle Canada, le Maroc, le Brésil
Le voyage en train est très agréable.The train journey is very pleasant.-age ending → masculine
Le gouvernement a annoncé de nouvelles mesures.The government announced new measures.-ment ending → masculine
🟣 Section 3
Feminine Patterns
These endings are typically feminine.
Typically Feminine endings
-tion/-sionla nation, la décision, la passion
-té/-tiéla liberté, la moitié, la beauté
-urela culture, la nature, la voiture
-ance/-encela chance, la patience, la science
-ettela baguette, la cassette
-iela boulangerie, la pharmacie
Common feminine nouns
Fem. countriesla France, la Chine, l'Italie
Fruitsla pomme, la poire, la cerise
Sciencesla chimie, la biologie, la physique
Abstract -eurla peur, la chaleur, la douleur
Exception alert: -eur is masculine for people (le vendeur, le directeur) but feminine for abstract qualities (la peur, la chaleur, la douleur).
📋 Section 4
Plural Formation
Most French plurals follow simple rules — but there are important patterns to know.
Default rule: Add -s to the singular. The -s is silent in speech — plurals are signalled by the article (le → les, un → des) and any liaisons.
le chat → les chats | la table → les tables
le chat → les chats | la table → les tables
Plural rules
+ -s (default)chat → chats, livre → livres
-s/-x/-z → no changele bras → les bras, la voix → les voix
-eau/-au → -eaux/-auxle bateau → les bateaux
-al → -auxle cheval → les chevaux, le journal → les journaux
-ail → -aux (some)le travail → les travaux, l'œil → les yeux
Irregular plurals
l'œil→ les yeux
monsieur→ messieurs
madame→ mesdames
le ciel→ les cieux (formal)
le bal→ les bals (not -aux)
J'ai vu deux chevaux dans le champ.I saw two horses in the field.cheval → chevaux (-al → -aux)
Les journaux du matin sont là.The morning papers are there.journal → journaux
Elle a de beaux yeux bleus.She has beautiful blue eyes.œil → yeux (fully irregular)
⚠️ Section 5
Notable Exceptions
These common nouns defy the ending patterns — worth memorising individually.
Masculine despite feminine-looking endings:
le musée (museum), le lycée (high school), le trophée, le silence, le problème, le système, le programme
Feminine despite masculine-looking endings:
la plage (beach), la page, la cage, la image, la nage
le musée (museum), le lycée (high school), le trophée, le silence, le problème, le système, le programme
Feminine despite masculine-looking endings:
la plage (beach), la page, la cage, la image, la nage
Greek-origin words in -me, -ème, -ème: Most are masculine — le problème, le système, le programme, le thème, le schème. Memorise la crème as the main exception.
✏️ Practice
Quiz — Noms & Genre
Nouns & Gender Quiz0 / 6
What is the plural of le cheval?
Which ending is typically masculine?
What is the plural of l'œil?
Plural of le bateau: ___
Plural of le travail: ___
Is le musée masculine or feminine?