le féminin . / the feminine
the first general rule in French language to change the noun or the adjective from the masculine to the feminine is we add to the noun or to the adjective the letter e /// we change also the adjective from masculine to feminine .
examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Une dure | Un dur |
| Une vraie | Un vrai |
| Polie// polite Feminine | Poli // polite |
| Médecine// doctor Feminine | Médecin // doctor |
| Enseignante // teacher / Feminine | Enseignant // teacher |
| Amie/friend // feminine | Ami/friend |
| Courte //short feminine | Court // short |
| Grande // grand feminine | Grand //grand |
But there is some exceptions to the previous first general rule this exceptions are //
1 / the nouns and the adjectives which are ended by letter (e )we don’t add any thing to it but we change the articles only to feminine articles .
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Une jeune// a young Feminine | Un jeune // a young |
| Une camarade// a comrade Feminine | Un camarade//a comrade |
| une mince / thin | Un mince /thin |
| Une vide / empty | Un vide / empty |
2// the nouns and the adjectives which are ended by the letter (é) we follow the general rule this mean we add the letter ( e) to the noun or to the adjective .
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Enchantée //delighted Feminine | Enchanté //delighted |
| une occupée /busy | Un Occupé //busy |
3/ the nouns and the adjectives which are ended by the letter( x) we delete this letter and put instead of it the two letters ( se) to change it from masculine to feminine /
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Heureuse //happy feminine | Heureux // happy |
| Épouse //wife | Époux //husband |
| Sérieuse // serious // feminine | Sérieux // serious |
This rule is to all the nouns or the adjectives which are ended by the letter (x) except the following adjective /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Douce //sweet / soft feminine | Doux //sweet / soft |
4/ the nouns or the adjectives which are ended by the letter( f) we delete the letter ( f) and add the two letters( ve) to change it from masculine to feminine .
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Sportive //sportswoman | Sportif// sports |
| Abortive // abortive feminine | Abortif // abortive |
5/ the nouns or the adjective which are ended by one from the following the letter (n/ I / s) we double these letters and add the letter e to the end of the adjective or the noun .
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Bonne // good Feminine | Bon ///good |
| Grosse //big Feminine | Gros/// big |
| Gentille // kind Feminine | Gentil /// kind |
| une épaisse | Un épais |
6/ the nouns or the adjective which are ended by the following syllable(teur) we delete this syllable and add the syllable (trice) .
Examples /
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Une actrice /// an actress | Un acteur /// an actor |
| Une directrice///a director feminine | Un directeur // a director |
there is two exception to The previous rule see the following table / we don’t change them //
| Professeur // teacher |
| Docteur // doctor |
7// there is some irregular cases the feminine is different from the masculine see the following table /
| Feminine | Masculine | |
| Vieille | Vieil// old feminine | Vieux //old |
| Longue //long feminine | Long//long | |
| Blanche // white feminine | Blanc // white | |
| Sèche // dry feminine | Sec// dry | |
| Belle /// beautiful feminine | Bel /beautiful feminine | Beau /// beautiful |
| Nouvelle // new feminine | Nouvel // new feminine | Nouveau // new |
8/ the proper nouns from the human or the animals change completely when we change it from masculine to feminine //
| Feminine | Masculine |
| Une fille // a girl | Un garçon // a boy |
| Une sœur / a sister | Un frère / a brother |
| Une mère // a mother | Un père // a father |
| Une tante // an aunt | Un oncle // an uncle |
| un’ épouse a wife // | Un mari // a husband |
| Une femme // a woman | Un homme // a man |
| Une grand’mère // a grand mother | Un grand père // a grand father |
| Une jumelle a twin feminine // | Un jumeau // a twin |
| Une fille // a daughter | Un fils / a son |
| Une dame | Un monsieur |
| Une poule | Un coq |
| Une maitresse // a mistress | Un maitre //a master |
| Une princesse // a princess | Un prince // a prince |
| Une hôtesse /// a hostess | Un hôte /// a host |
| Une chanteuse /// a singer f | Un chanteur // a singer m |
| Une danseur // a dancer f | Un danseur //a dancer m |
| Une vendeuse //a saleswoman | Un vendeur // a seller |
The second general rule are some nouns in French language are masculine only some nouns is feminine only , we know that from the previous article which predicates the noun and this is depend on hearing .
| The type | The meaning | The word |
| Feminine | The force | La force |
| Masculine | The art | Le art |
| Masculine | The speech | Le discours |
| Feminine | The anger | La colère |
| Masculine | The stadium | Le stade |
| Feminine | The university | La université |
| Masculine | The college | Le collège |
Usually the words which end by the following syllables are masculine
1/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ment) are masculine /
| The meaning | The word |
| An apartment | Un appartement |
| Ann environment | Un environnement |
2/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (isme) are masculine /
| The meaning | The word |
| The socialism | Le socialisme |
| The capitalism | Le capitalisme |
3/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (al) are masculine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A journal | Un journal |
| A horse | Un cheval |
| An animal | Un animal |
4/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ier) are masculine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A knight | Un chevalier |
| A chestnut tree | Un marronier |
Usually the words / the adjectives which end by the following syllables are feminine//
1/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (tion) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A relationship | Une relation |
| A question | Une question |
2/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ance) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| France | La France |
| The birth | La naissance |
3/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ence ) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A difference | Une différence |
| A patience | Une patience |
4/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ette) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A bicycle | Une bicyclette |
5/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ure) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| A nature | Une nature |
| A car | Une voiture |
6/ the nouns which are ended by the syllable (ie) are feminine /
| The meaning | The word |
| The economy | La économie |
| An academy | Une académie |