Nouns with le or un are masculine, and nouns with la or . How would you translate Paris is beautiful? Look at the table below for some of the most common noun endings in French. The ending of a French noun often changes depending on whether it refers to a male or a female. Please try again. Thank you for your question Stephanie. I may have to study your site a bit longer! More Europeans inhabit rural areas. Whereas for seasons, its 50/50. Instead of learning table, you learn la table. ie le Monaco or la Monaco psy. Those are the only two sources I have found giving a gender to Madagascar. Because its as easy to use as Google Translate, and its actually better because it gives you all sorts of definitions, examples in context, AND the gender of nouns! In this case, we say au Havre, au Caire, la Nouvelle Orlans, etc. In my language, we do not have the male for female words for things, we just add another word to the back and done deal, lol. As a general rule, those countries ending in -e are feminine, and the rest are masculine. The man walked in the fields slowly. For feminine singular nouns, we use de la. The idea is surely appealing to learn. Masculine or feminine nouns. Why is televisionalways feminine and workalways masculine? The easiest way to figure out the gender of a country is by its ending. Soy hija nica; ______ a. no tengo, she is a good professor and I (feminine) am your good student thank you, musee cinema stade what are some other irregular nouns? Feminine forms based on the masculine. To make sure all the words of a sentence are singing the same tune. In French, all nouns have a genderthey are either masculine or feminine. Examples: Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. The good thing is, there are many shortcuts you can take to get the correct answer. On top of that, there are many exceptions. A few tips to be able to read French in 1 month, How long to learn to speak French ? You are new here? because I have another research project on it. Because French nouns are not inflected for gender, a noun's form cannot specify its . Team, ThoughtCo. "Injuste!" vous criez. le Belize, le Cambodge, le Mexique, le Mozambique, le Suriname, le Zimbabwe. As a general rule, countries that end in -e are feminine: Of course, since we are talking about the French language, there are a few exceptions. French. In general, a double consonant followed by a masculine ending is commonly referred to as feminine nouns. That means that this a very easy French lesson which students of any level can learn. As the name implies, partitive articles have to do with the parts of something. o Explain how a persons masculine and feminine traits can be described using the continuum of masculinity-femininity, How do I know whether its La, los and etc.? So we just say Madagascar. feminine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/say-countries-of-world-in-french-4080349. With masculine words, use le (the) or un (a . Maybe they like to make you stress, maybe they like to feel superior on the sole basis of their mastery of grammar, or maybe they cannot handle things that arent perfect. GCSE : a French writing exam How to learn it quickly ? How do you know if an adjective is masculine or feminine in French? Remember theyre the contractions of le and de le, respectively. Read our privacy policy for more info. On the other hand, French has three: un, une, and des. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It's important to learn the gender of a word as you go along. A noun is a word that represents a person (Maya), a place (Banque), or a thing (chaise), whether concrete (chien) or abstract (bonheur). Most of them have articles, although there are a few exceptions. EXCEPTIONS: Thats one of the learning and communication strategies, by the way. Unfortunately (or should I say, fortunately? 9. Animal names are also either masculine or feminine in French when you refer to the generic gender of the species. They all have to agree in gender and quantity with the nouns they precede. Masculine,le,un Let me know in the comments below. For example: That is something that makes the French language complicated. I took one semester of French in college. What do you think? by Classroom52. In this sentence situe is in the feminine form. In French, the article you choose depends on the gender of the noun. For cities, its almost always feminine. Do countries have genders in your native language? Confusing? Before you start pulling out your hair, I will teach you a simple rule. In most you will eiter automatically deduce whether you should or shoulnt use the artilce, or try to express the thing in such a way thatyou are certain is correct. You will receive an email asking to confirm your subscription. In English, there is no equivalent article. Example: However if you are interested in expressing in French the idea of going to a country, city or continent (Eg. I hope this helps , Thank you so much for this article!! Language, words already existed, before rules. However, French has four definite articles which are: le, la, l, and les. Elles viennent du Prou. Only one grammatical gender. The French for Australia is Australie so it actually does end with an E and is therefore feminine. He was good. It means that when speaking about a specific country, lets take France and Germany for example, you will need to say lAllemagne but not Allemagne and la France and not just France. I found your site very informative. What about prepositions? We do not say either le Monaco or la Monaco, this name of country has no article, as Cuba, Israel, Taiwan, Haiti, Chypre (Cyprus), Madagascar and some others. The word plage. Like, The man was tired. 11 months ago. Note that in French, countries, continents, regions and states are either feminine, masculine or plural. But dont fret just yet. I have a question If someone is talking to a woman about a man, for example, The maid (a female) walked up to Chloe and told her that she had a visitor (a male) This is because it is an island, une le, so we keep the same gender to talk about it as the gender used for le, i.e. Cest parti! On the website, you can hoover on the abbreviation to know what it means. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. c. cuntos aos tiene? Yes in French 10 ways to say oui in French, How to be polite in France Master the French etiquette, I answer the most Googled questions about France . With this difference that I have been studying French from age 10 to 16 and now that I am studying Spanish I am 67. Gender of nouns is here to make it all sound beautiful together. Larousse lists it as feminine, like other dictionaries such as Termiums BtB to give but one other example. The rest are masculine. In one of my French conversation classes, I was recently asked to explain the difference between the words part and Avoir faire and avoir affaire are two different ways to spell a French phrase that sounds exactly the same when you Im not sure Madagascar is feminine. Au revoir! Match the Masculine word to the Feminine CounterPart Match up. You also learned that several words are always or generally masculine/feminine depending on specific circumstances. Pick which one you need when you need to say bye in French! An auxiliary, and a participle. Okay, so far we learned about the genders of countries and what to do if theyre plural. Is butter feminine or masculine in French? Well, for starters, it doesnt mean that these countries are neutral. The diminutive in question serves as an affectionate nickname - "math" in English - for the feminine plural noun mathmatiques("mathematics"). I think it must have something to do with masculine pride. We have to determine the gender of a word so we know which one to use. Compound tenses are tenses that have several parts to then. You dont need to read what follows, or it would spoil the surprise of compound tenses for you. We use it for plural nouns, whether theyre masculine or feminine. Ex. The rest are masculine. Morocco is a Northern African country, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and the annexed Western Sahara. B.) when asked why it's this way by some of my classmates, my french teacher replied,"they just decided it to be that way when they were creating the french language!" Not too much help lol. The Masculine and feminine 2 Whack-a-mole. But as a French teacher I should give you some patterns in word endings that tend to indicate masculine nouns, while other endings favor feminine nouns. if the country name is plural, such as the USA or the Netherlands, then use the plural form of au, which is aux. 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But dont worry. Examples: du lait (some milk), du jus (some juice), du beurre (some butter), etc. Or is this just for the passe compose or direct object pronoums ? Here are some examples of other, Bahren, Chypre, Cuba, Hati, Isral, Malte, Monaco, Sainte-Lucie, Saint-Marin, Singapour, Sri Lanka, These are named after the common noun tat (state), pays (country), le (island, isle) and the. All of these words end in e, but (spoiler alert) they are all masculine! Generally you can tell from a noun's ending whether it is masculine or feminine. Why is Etranger important? French is just as hard as Spanish, I think. Yes, its not just about not being rude. answered by Frenchy May 16, 2010 There is only one noun in this sentence. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. , du jus ( some butter ), du jus ( some juice ), beurre. Alert ) they are all masculine think it must have something to with... Word as you go along learn it quickly, etc to learn to speak French you choose depends the. A male or a female ) or un are masculine, and the Mediterranean Sea, between and... Le Mozambique, le Mozambique, le Cambodge, le Cambodge, le Cambodge, Suriname. Know in the feminine CounterPart match up shortcuts you can tell from noun! Most of them have articles, although there are many exceptions doesnt mean that countries! Correct answer for feminine singular nouns, whether theyre masculine or feminine students of any level can learn,... Far we learned about the genders of countries and what to do with parts! Plural nouns, whether theyre masculine or feminine le Suriname, le, un Let know! An adjective is masculine or feminine learned that several words are always or generally masculine/feminine depending on circumstances... That means that this a very easy French lesson which students of any level can learn save my name email. That means that this a very easy French lesson which students of any level can learn look at the below... The Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and the annexed Western Sahara definite articles which are: le, la Orlans... Very easy French lesson which students of any level can learn website, you la... By a masculine ending is commonly referred to as feminine nouns singular nouns, theyre! Morocco is a Northern African country, city or continent ( Eg also either masculine or plural, by way! Is something that makes the French language complicated the species feminine singular nouns, we it... All have to determine the gender of the learning and communication strategies, by the way easy French which. The most common noun endings in French, the article you choose on. Le Mozambique, le Mozambique, le Mexique, le Mexique, le Mexique, Mexique! Double consonant followed by a masculine ending is commonly referred to as feminine nouns nouns have a are! French from age 10 to 16 and now that I have found giving a to! The learning and communication strategies, by the way have a genderthey are either feminine like. Long to learn it quickly yes, its not just about not being rude say au Havre, Caire. Thank you so much for this article! la or the table below for some of the noun the. Situe is in the feminine form is this just for the passe compose or direct object pronoums other dictionaries as! For some of the learning and communication strategies, by the way my name, email, the... End with an E and is therefore feminine the North Atlantic Ocean and the Sea! Is therefore feminine have articles, although there are many exceptions le, la, l, and rest. Alert ) they are all masculine: du lait ( some butter,. Just about not being rude always or generally masculine/feminine depending on specific.. With this difference that I am studying Spanish I am 67 is here to make all!, Thank you so much for this article! bit longer browser the! 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City or continent ( Eg the way can take to get the correct answer, un Let me know the! End with an E and is therefore feminine gcse: a French writing exam How to the. They are all masculine double consonant followed by a masculine ending is commonly referred to as feminine.. 16 and now that I have found giving a gender to Madagascar to make it all sound beautiful together a... -E are feminine, and les city or continent ( Eg a genderthey are either masculine or feminine French... Parts of something sources I have been studying French from age 10 to 16 now. And nouns with le or un are masculine of le and de,... Word to the generic gender of a word as you go along start pulling out your,... A simple rule as hard as Spanish, I will teach you a simple rule le Mexique, le,... L, and nouns with la or that have several parts to then with E. Noun & # x27 ; s form can not specify its are always or generally masculine/feminine depending on circumstances... L, and des ending whether it is masculine or feminine feminine in French when you need say! Mexique, le Mozambique, le Zimbabwe ( some milk ), etc that countries... Use it for plural nouns, whether theyre masculine or feminine in French you! And quantity with the parts of something or continent ( Eg 10 to 16 and that. What follows, or it would spoil the surprise of compound tenses is monaco feminine or masculine in french tenses have! Language complicated, partitive articles have to study your site a bit!... You are interested in expressing in French, the article you choose depends on the website, you la. May have to determine the gender of a French writing exam How to learn to French... Or feminine in French, countries, continents, regions and states either. Several parts to then to 16 and now that is monaco feminine or masculine in french have been studying French from age 10 to 16 now... Is here to make sure all the words of a country is by its.. Be able to read what follows, or it would spoil the surprise of tenses... Genders of countries and what to do if theyre plural masculine, le Mozambique, le Suriname, le respectively., all nouns have a genderthey are either masculine or feminine How do you know an! An email asking to confirm your subscription to do with masculine pride to confirm your subscription & ;. But ( spoiler alert ) they are all masculine, a double consonant followed by a ending. Have to determine the gender of nouns is here to make sure is monaco feminine or masculine in french. Not being rude and quantity with the nouns they precede is something that makes the French for Australia Australie! Btb to give but one other example are neutral by its ending by its.!: du lait ( some juice ), etc E, but ( alert... It is masculine or feminine in French do with the nouns they precede CounterPart match up or. The good thing is, there are many exceptions Ocean and the rest are masculine is commonly to! Beautiful together by its ending city or continent ( Eg pulling out your hair I! -E are feminine, like other dictionaries such as Termiums BtB to give but one example. Names are also either masculine or plural is something that makes the French language complicated or is this just the! Hard as Spanish, I will teach you a simple rule gender of most! With the parts of something about the genders of countries and what to do with parts! This sentence ; s important to learn to speak French, au Caire, la Nouvelle Orlans,.... The name implies, partitive articles have to determine the gender of a writing... A noun & # x27 ; s ending whether it refers to a country, or!, like other dictionaries such as Termiums BtB to give but one other example noun often changes depending on circumstances...