Resolved questions
Identifying whether a noun is masculine or feminine
Is there any general rule of knowing whether a noun is feminine or masculine in French ?
Share:
Answers
Sort by:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voting
There isn't a specific rule. You just need to practice.
But in general nouns ending in:
-age
-ment
-il, -ail, -eil, -ueil
-é (but not -té)
-eau and -ou
-ème, -ège
-i, -at, -et and -ot
-er
-oir
-isme
-ing
-ard
and words ending in other consonants (in the spelling)
--> refer to masculine nouns
And nouns ending in:
-tion, -sion and -son
-ure
-ude, -ade
-ée
-té
-ière
Consonant followed by -ie
-euse
-ance, -ence
Most other endings consisting of Vowel + Consonant + e: -ine, -ise, -alle, -elle, -esse, -ette etc.
--> refer to feminine nouns
I wouldn't advice you to learn that by heart. But by practicing French very often you will naturally be able to identify whether a noun is masculine or feminine.
But in general nouns ending in:
-age
-ment
-il, -ail, -eil, -ueil
-é (but not -té)
-eau and -ou
-ème, -ège
-i, -at, -et and -ot
-er
-oir
-isme
-ing
-ard
and words ending in other consonants (in the spelling)
--> refer to masculine nouns
And nouns ending in:
-tion, -sion and -son
-ure
-ude, -ade
-ée
-té
-ière
Consonant followed by -ie
-euse
-ance, -ence
Most other endings consisting of Vowel + Consonant + e: -ine, -ise, -alle, -elle, -esse, -ette etc.
--> refer to feminine nouns
I wouldn't advice you to learn that by heart. But by practicing French very often you will naturally be able to identify whether a noun is masculine or feminine.
Submit your answer
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.
If you copy this answer from another italki answer page, please state the URL of where you got your answer from.
0 comments
Please enter between 2 and 2000 characters.