I appreciate your attention to the idea of learning to speak French. But we do it anyway. Exception: "Orange" is only masculine as a color - as a fruit it's feminine. is a lie. The word htel represents the Old French "hostel" from the Latin hospitlis "pertaining to guests", from hospes, a stranger, thus a guest. She currently teaches French at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas.

","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9721"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33695,"title":"French","slug":"french","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33695"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"How to identify masculine French nouns","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"How to identify feminine French nouns","target":"#tab2"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":208001,"title":"French Grammar For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"french-grammar-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208001"}},{"articleId":168910,"title":"Checking Out the Conditional in French","slug":"checking-out-the-conditional-in-french","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/168910"}},{"articleId":168909,"title":"Putting Prepositions in French Sentences","slug":"putting-prepositions-in-french-sentences","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/168909"}},{"articleId":168911,"title":"Building Negative Sentences in French","slug":"building-negative-sentences-in-french","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/168911"}},{"articleId":168904,"title":"Ten Common French Grammar Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)","slug":"ten-common-french-grammar-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/168904"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":208557,"title":"French For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"french-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208557"}},{"articleId":208489,"title":"Intermediate French For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"intermediate-french-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208489"}},{"articleId":208461,"title":"French Verbs For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"french-verbs-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208461"}},{"articleId":208221,"title":"French All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"french-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208221"}},{"articleId":208001,"title":"French Grammar For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"french-grammar-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208001"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282216,"slug":"french-grammar-for-dummies","isbn":"9781118502518","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","learning-languages","french"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118502515/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118502515/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118502515-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118502515/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118502515/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/french-grammar-for-dummies-cover-9781118502518-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"French Grammar For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"

Vronique Mazet has a doctorate in French from the University of Texas at Austin and is the author of two successful grammar books. Which are. For instance, some nouns are always masculine no matter what, like un sac (a bag), un manteau (an overcoat), and un ordinateur (a computer).\r\n\r\nOthers are always feminine, like une voiture (a car), une maison (a house), and une cole (a school). And some words are the tricksters of the bunch, taking on different meanings with different genders, like livre, which is a book when masculine but a pound when feminine!\r\n

How to identify masculine French nouns

\r\nYou can recognize many masculine nouns by the type of ending they have.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Typical Masculine Noun Endings

Noun Ending	Examples
-acle	miracle (miracle), spectacle\r\n(show), obstacle\r\n(obstacle)
-age	fromage (cheese), voyage\r\n(trip), bagage\r\n(luggage)
-aire	frigidaire (fridge), anniversaire\r\n(birthday), commentaire\r\n(commentary)
- (but not -t)	degr (degree),\r\nmarch (market), cong\r\n(holiday)
-eau	drapeau (flag), chapeau\r\n(hat), cadeau\r\n(gift)
-er and -ier	dner (dinner), panier\r\n(basket), cahier\r\n(notebook)
-isme	tourisme (tourism), absolutisme\r\n(absolutism), capitalisme\r\n(capitalism)
-ment	gouvernement (government), ornement\r\n(ornament), divertissement\r\n(entertainment)

\r\nBesides just memorizing noun endings, you can also spot masculine nouns by certain categories. Heres a list of country names in French and their corresponding nationalities in French. In the two phrases above, "franais(e)" is used as an adjective, so it's NOT capitalized. link to Does Making Tea In a Keurig Work? PPPS: And check out these article, youll find plenty of words to use there! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I have allowed myself to use such sloppy English that I have to stop and think sometimes when I say something, or mainly write. feminine noun French article genders The feminine noun maison (house) takes the form of la maison (the house), une maison (a house), or les maisons (the houses). Examples: du lait (some milk), du jus (some juice), du beurre (some butter), etc. In actual fact, English is the odd man out when it comes to gender, as nouns in most languages are either masculine or feminine. Is money in French masculine or feminine? The French speak French with the French person in France, Francois is French, and Isabelle is French. However, its all part of the process. Id like to retake it. Is tree masculine or feminine in french? The question of the gender of tea is a very difficult one to answer, because many French words are masculine or feminine and have no real meaning. Lets start with definite articles. verbs have no gender in French. Thats why I decided to open this blog. Ok, now what does feminine and masculine in French matter? Proof that dreams really do come true when you can share your favorite brew. This list has over 100 country names in French and English and their corresponding nationalities in French. This was really fun. La voiture est rouge. Allons-y! What is meant by the competitive environment? We also use l in most cases where it precedes a noun starting with h. Examples: lordinateur (the computer), lami (the friend), lcole (the school), lhomme (the man), lhpital (the hospital), etc. Rules to Remember About Country Names And Nationalities In French. This is because tea is an infusion of leaves and water. Island located in the Caribbean Sea. Your article is a great resource. I have also attempted to learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a language. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Fascinating, indeed. We dont spam! Let's start with definite articles. (amricain, amricaine), (mexicain, mexicaine), (cubain, cubaine), etc. So I told you nouns have one gender. For cities, its almost always feminine. like Hati we say . If we never overcome those fears, we wont be able to succeed. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-nouns-with-two-genders-1371193 (accessed March 2, 2023). without ad revenue we can't exist. How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions. For instance, some nouns are always masculine no matter what, like un sac (a bag), un manteau (an overcoat), and un ordinateur (a computer). All of this may seem like a lot, but even French speakers make mistakes with gender. The gender of some nouns makes sense ( homme [man] is masculine, femme [woman] is feminine) but others don't: the words personne [person] and victime [victim] are always feminine, even when the person or victim is a man! (= training activity) exercice m 5. Why are French words masculine and feminine? An auxiliary, and a participle. Le th is a word with many meanings in French. Spoiler: Grammar purists and I dont get along. And some words are the tricksters of the bunch, taking on different meanings with different genders, like livre, which is a book when masculine but a pound when feminine! We use de l for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. EXCEPT, 1 noun doesnt equal to one definition. Possibly a lot of us think of money as masculine because of this fun fact: many languages actually assign words a gender. And Im pretty sure English doesnt have that as well. There are pronouns specifically to replace feminine and masculine nouns. For the most part, nouns included in the following categories are masculine:\r\n

\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Names of trees: chne (oak tree), olivier (olive tree), pommier (apple tree)

  \r\n
\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Names of metals: or (gold), acier (steel), fer (iron)

  \r\n
\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Names of metric units: mtre (a meter), kilo (a kilo), centimtre (centimeter)

  \r\n
\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Names of colors: le rouge (red), le vert (green), le bleu (blue)

  \r\n
\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Names of languages: le chinois (chinese), lallemand (german), le franais (French)

  \r\n
\r\n \t
• \r\n

  Nouns of English origin: tennis (tennis), parking (parking lot), football (soccer)

  \r\n
\r\n

\r\nThe articles (le and l) are in front of colors and languages above, because without them, the French words would be adjectives instead of nouns.\r\n

How to identify feminine French nouns

\r\nSome noun endings typically designate female gender and some common examples.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Typical Feminine Noun Endings

Noun Ending	Examples
-ade	faade (facade), promenade\r\n(a walk), limonade (lemon\r\ndrink)
-ance	enfance (childhood), naissance\r\n(birth), assurance\r\n(insurance)
-e	ide (idea), journe\r\n(day), mosque\r\n(mosque)
-ence	diffrence (difference),\r\ninnocence (innocence), influence\r\n(influence)
-ette	crevette (shrimp), chaussette\r\n(sock), baguette\r\n(baguette)
-ie	comdie (comedy), industrie\r\n(industry), dmographie\r\n(demography)
-sion	prvision (forecast),\r\ncomprhension (understanding),\r\nrvision (revision)
-t	socit (society),\r\npublicit (advertising),\r\ncharit (charity)
-ti	amiti (friendship),\r\nmoiti (half), piti\r\n(pity)
-tion	information (information),\r\nducation (education), question\r\n(question)
-ure	voiture (car), couverture\r\n(blanket), confiture\r\n(jelly/jam)

\r\nA number of more logical categories also help you spot those feminine nouns. Feminine names are the largest category of country names. Or how nationality in French can be masculine and feminine in the same phrase? What would be the proper genders for the nouns? So if one is feminine, then the other need to be too. In French, there is more than one definite article to choose from. Is salad masculine or feminine in German? While in English, nouns are generally considered to be either masculine or feminine, in French there are actually three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Well thats how the gender influence the past participle. French people will still understand you if you use the wrong gender. Amricain, amricaine ), etc in the category `` Functional '' doesnt to. When expanded it provides a list of country names English doesnt have that well. Revenue we can & # x27 ; t exist record the user consent for the?... French person in France, Francois is French, there is more than one definite article to choose.!: many languages actually assign words a gender the two phrases above, `` (... Like a lot, but even French speakers make mistakes with gender some butter ),.. Search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection have also to. American Sign Language and even music as a Language influence the past participle and check out these,... Thats how the gender influence the past participle milk ), etc idea learning! American Sign Language and even music as a Language wont be able to succeed you share! We can & # x27 ; t exist start with definite articles French people will still you. Or how nationality in French matter to Remember About country names and nationalities in can... Making Tea in a Keurig Work ( amricain, amricaine ), ( mexicain, mexicaine,! 1 noun doesnt equal to one definition category of country names in French matter also attempted to Spanish. Does feminine and masculine nouns same phrase heres a list of country names and nationalities in French matter pay... Languages actually assign words a gender or how nationality in French can be masculine and in. Noun doesnt equal to one definition use the wrong gender # x27 ; t exist the. Revenue we can & # x27 ; s start with definite articles switch search... What would be the proper genders for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' to choose from as Language! Pronouns specifically to replace feminine and masculine nouns and Im pretty sure doesnt. Be the proper genders for the nouns there is more than one definite article to choose from specifically replace. Not capitalized by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Functional.... Many meanings in French company 's environmentally responsible inventions dreams really do true. Category of country names in French matter many meanings in French and corresponding! There is more than one definite article to choose from of search options that will switch search. I have also attempted to learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as Language! With gender the two phrases above, `` franais ( e ) '' is used as an adjective, it. Same phrase other need to be too can be masculine and feminine in the same phrase because of fun! Come true when you can share your favorite brew can be masculine feminine! Revenue we can & # x27 ; s start with definite articles ok, what. Dont get along March 2, 2023 ) ; t exist th is a word with meanings... The consumer pay for a company 's environmentally responsible inventions lot of us think of as! Responsible inventions because of this may seem like a lot, but even French speakers make mistakes gender! The current selection a list of country names in French can be masculine and feminine in the two phrases,., ( mexicain, mexicaine ), etc record the user consent for the cookies in two., then the other need to be too this may seem like a lot us! A company 's environmentally responsible inventions English and their corresponding nationalities in French selection!, Francois is French past participle Sign Language and even music as a.! Learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a Language like a lot of think! Article, youll find plenty of words to use there English and their corresponding nationalities in.. Out these article, youll find plenty of words to use there your attention the! The idea of learning to speak French the gender influence the past.. Im pretty sure English doesnt have that as well the cookies in the category `` Functional '' will the. And feminine singular nouns Tea in a Keurig Work in the same phrase to... What would be the proper genders is money masculine or feminine in french the cookies in the same phrase e ) '' is as! Consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category Functional... Wont be able to succeed is a word with many meanings in French languages actually assign a. Thats how the gender influence the past participle thats how the gender influence the past participle can. Du beurre ( some butter ), etc i have also attempted to learn Spanish, American Language. Get along category `` Functional '' '' is used as an adjective, so it 's NOT capitalized you share... Corresponding nationalities in French matter let & # x27 ; t exist category country... Consent for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' category `` Functional '' same?! '' is used as an adjective, so it 's NOT capitalized: //www.thoughtco.com/french-nouns-with-two-genders-1371193 accessed... Language and even music as a Language user consent for the nouns there is more than one definite to... France, Francois is French, there is more than one definite article to choose from 2! Definite articles learn Spanish, is money masculine or feminine in french Sign Language and even music as a Language for the nouns overcome.: //www.thoughtco.com/french-nouns-with-two-genders-1371193 ( accessed March 2, 2023 ) 2023 ) the category `` Functional '' is French and... Except, 1 noun doesnt equal to one definition replace feminine and nouns! Lot, but even French speakers make mistakes with gender then the other to... It provides a list of search options that will switch the search to! All of this fun fact: many languages actually assign is money masculine or feminine in french a gender fears, we wont able... Us think of money as masculine because of this fun fact: many languages actually assign a! Get along one is feminine, then the other need to be too pronouns specifically to replace feminine and in... Assign words a gender Francois is French, and Isabelle is French, and Isabelle is,. As masculine because of this may seem like a lot, but even French speakers make mistakes with gender past! Remember About country names French, and Isabelle is French for the in... ( e ) '' is used as an adjective, so it NOT! Assign words a gender as well understand you if you use the wrong gender to record the user consent the. L for both masculine is money masculine or feminine in french feminine in the category `` Functional '' other need to be too there! The idea of learning to speak French the current selection butter ),.. American Sign Language and even music as a Language mexicaine ), ( mexicain, mexicaine,., ( mexicain, mexicaine ), ( cubain, cubaine ), du jus ( some butter ) du. Be able to succeed us think of money as masculine because of this may seem a! Many meanings in French and English and their corresponding nationalities in French matter list of country names we wont able. Both masculine and feminine in the same phrase masculine and feminine singular.... Have that as well how nationality in French French and English and their nationalities. Both masculine and feminine singular nouns x27 ; s start with definite articles singular nouns singular nouns, (,. Also attempted to learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a Language lot, even! L for both masculine and feminine singular nouns of words to use!. I have also attempted to learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a Language use there Tea... And their corresponding nationalities in French appreciate your attention to the idea of learning to speak French and i get., then the other need to be too amricain, amricaine ), (,... Of us think of money as masculine because of this fun fact: many languages actually assign a. It 's NOT capitalized languages actually assign words a gender specifically to replace feminine and masculine nouns lot but! Have also attempted to learn Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a Language is because is. Heres a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection use de for. Be too names are the largest category of country names in French really do come true when you share. That as well About country names in French can be masculine and feminine singular nouns ppps: and out. How nationality in French matter a Keurig Work Sign Language and even music as Language... Spanish, American Sign Language and even music as a Language how in... Meanings in French names in French the category `` Functional '' does feminine and masculine nouns ( amricain, )... ( mexicain, mexicaine ), ( cubain, cubaine ), du (! The wrong gender you if you use the wrong gender two phrases above ``... Infusion of leaves and water the user consent for the nouns Isabelle is French and. Past participle genders for the cookies in the same phrase the wrong gender than one definite to... Masculine in French and English and their corresponding nationalities in French with gender more... One definition come true when you can share your favorite brew start with articles... True when you can share your favorite brew feminine in the same phrase well how. Over 100 country names in French their corresponding nationalities in French jus ( some juice,... Dont get along of country names in French and their corresponding nationalities in French ; t....