How to know if a word is feminine or masculine in French?

 

As you know, French nouns have a gender : they can be feminine or masculine, which is confusing for many French learners. Even if there is no magical recipe to know if a noun is feminine or masculine, some endings are associated with a particular gender. 

Here are some common feminine endings:

  • -ade une promenade
  • -aison une combinaison
  • -ire une fermière
  • -euse une chanteuse
  • -ienne une pharmacienne
  • -ie chimie
  • -sion une passion
  • -ture une confiture
  • -té une charité
  • -tion une invention 

Some common masculin endings:

  • -age un virage
  • -al un arsenal
  • -ent un sergent
  • -ier un fermier
  • -eur un chanteur
  • -ien un pharmacien
  • -isme un communisme 
  • -ment un gouvernement 

Let's practice!

Complete the sentences with the correct form of  "un" or "une". (Check your answers below)

1) Mets  _ ceinture (ton, ta)

2) Aimes-tu ___ comédie? (le, la)

3) Ma mère adore __ fromage. (le, la)

4) __ capitalisme est un régime économique et social. (le, la)

5) Tu as _ animal de compagnie? (Un, une)

6) Mon patron a __ patience. (Du, de la)

7) C'est___ très beau village. (un, une)

8) J'aime _ appartement (ton, ta) 

 

 

Check your answers

1) Ta 

2) La

3) Le

4) Le

5) Un 

6) De la 

7) Un

8) Ton

 

About me

Umut Incesu
Bonjour!
My name is Umut and I have been teaching French to adults for more than 5 years in Toronto. I love reading, learning new languages and travelling!
I've helped hundreds of students to learn French effectively and managed to bring many students from entry-level to advanced fluency with my online courses.

Let's start your French journey!  Start your lessons now.


Umut Incesu, PhD (he/him)

Tumu Learning

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