Masculine or feminine – How to determine the gender of French nouns

Key takeaways

• All French nouns have a gender: masculine or feminine.
• Articles show the noun’s gender: le (masculine), la (feminine), les (plural).
• Some endings give strong clues: -age, -ment (masculine), -tion, -ette (feminine).
• There are exceptions that must be memorized.
• Learning gender is essential for correct articles and adjective agreement.

Does French Have Gendered Nouns?

Yes. Unlike English, every French noun is assigned a gender. This affects not only the article (le/la) but also adjectives and pronouns.

Examples:

• le livre (the book, masculine)
• la maison (the house, feminine)

So if you’re wondering “is la feminine or masculine in French?” — it is feminine. And le is masculine.

The Lingolia guide on Le genre offers a clear overview of gender rules. You can also find useful tips in this OptiLingo guide with categorized examples.

Articles and Gender in French

Articles immediately show gender:

• Masculine: le, un → le chien (the dog), un garçon (a boy).
• Feminine: la, une → la chaise (the chair), une fille (a girl).
• Before vowels or mute h, both become l’: 
  
  • l’homme (the man, masculine).
  • l’école (the school, feminine).
• Plural: les (the), des (some).

French Gender Rules – Typical Endings

Although there are exceptions, noun endings often predict gender.

Common Masculine Endings

• -age: le fromage (cheese)
• -ment: le gouvernement (government)
• -isme: le tourisme (tourism)
• -eau: le château (castle)
• -oir: le miroir (mirror)

Common Feminine Endings

• -tion: la nation (nation)
• -ette: la baguette (baguette)
• -ie: la chimie (chemistry)
• -ure: la lecture (reading)
• -té: la liberté (freedom)

Irregularities and Exceptions

Some nouns don’t follow the rules:

• le problème (problem) is masculine despite ending in -e.
• la plage (beach) is feminine despite ending in -age.

That’s why memorization and practice are important.

Masculine and Feminine Pairs

Many nouns exist in both masculine and feminine forms, often by changing the ending:

• un acteur / une actrice → actor/actress
• un chanteur / une chanteuse → singer
• un étudiant / une étudiante → student

1

French Gender in Sentences

Adjectives must agree with gender:

• Un petit chien (a small dog, masculine).
• Une petite maison (a small house, feminine).

Common Mistakes Learners Make

• Forgetting to learn nouns with their article (le/la).
• Assuming all -e endings are feminine.
• Forgetting agreement of adjectives in writing.

Exercises: Practice Gender in French

1. Identify gender

• chaise → ________
• journal → ________
• liberté → ________

2. Correct the mistake

• ❌ la fromage → ________
• ❌ le maison → ________

3. Translate into French

• A boy and a girl
• The problem is difficult
• The freedom is important

Answers

1. f, m, f
2. le fromage, la maison
3. Un garçon et une fille | Le problème est difficile | La liberté est importante

Tips for Mastering French Gender

• Always memorize nouns with their article.
• Group nouns by gender and category.
• Use color-coding (blue for masculine, red for feminine) when making flashcards.
• Read and listen to French daily to reinforce patterns.

For more insights, check our French verb tenses overview. For efficient learning strategies, see learning French effectively. And if you’re planning your study goals, explore how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

All French nouns have a gender — masculine or feminine — and this affects articles, adjectives, and grammar. While endings like -age (masculine) or -tion (feminine) provide clues, exceptions must be memorized.

Studying resources like Le genre and OptiLingo’s guide will help reinforce rules. With regular practice, identifying gender becomes natural as you learn French with Promova.