Nouns: Gender and Number

01

Identifying Noun Gender

While there are many exceptions, some common patterns in noun endings can help you guess the gender.

Common Feminine Endings

Nouns ending in -e are often feminine. Other common feminine endings include -tion, -sion, -té, and -ette.

• la table

  the table

• la voiture

  the car

• la nation

  the nation

• la beauté

  the beauty

Common Masculine Endings

Nouns ending in a consonant are often masculine. Other common masculine endings include -age, -ment, -eau, and -isme.

• le sac

  the bag

• le parc

  the park

• le fromage

  the cheese

• le bateau

  the boat

Exceptions

There are many nouns that do not follow these patterns. For example, le livre (the book) is masculine even though it ends in -e, and la main (the hand) is feminine even though it ends in a consonant. The most reliable way to know a noun's gender is to learn it with its article, for example, learning "un livre" instead of just "livre".

02

Noun Number: Singular and Plural

Nouns also change form to indicate number: singular (one) or plural (more than one).

The General Rule: Adding -s

The most common way to make a noun plural is to add an -s to the singular form. In most cases, this final -s is not pronounced. The change is primarily visible in writing and is heard in the change of the article (le/la becomes les; un/une becomes des).

• le garçon → les garçons

  the boy → the boys

• la fille → les filles

  the girl → the girls

• une table → des tables

  a table → tables

03

Irregular Plurals

Several groups of nouns form their plurals differently.

Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z

These nouns do not change their spelling in the plural. Only the article indicates the change in number.

• le bus → les bus

  the bus → the buses

• le prix → les prix

  the price → the prices

• le nez → les nez

  the nose → the noses

Nouns ending in -au, -eau, or -eu

These nouns typically form their plural by adding an -x.

• le bateau → les bateaux

  the boat → the boats

• le jeu → les jeux

  the game → the games

• un cheveu → des cheveux

  a hair → hair

Nouns ending in -al

Most nouns ending in -al change to -aux in the plural.

• un journal → des journaux

  a newspaper → newspapers

• un animal → des animaux

  an animal → animals

Nouns ending in -ou

Most nouns ending in -ou follow the standard rule and add an -s. However, a few common ones add an -x.

• un clou → des clous

  a nail → nails

• un bijou → des bijoux

  a jewel → jewels

• le genou → les genoux

  the knee → the knees

Other Major Irregularities

A few very common nouns have unique plural forms.

• un œil → des yeux

  an eye → eyes

• monsieur → messieurs

  sir/Mr. → gentlemen

• madame → mesdames

  ma'am/Mrs. → ladies