Understanding Noun Gender and Plurals in French

What is Noun Gender in French?

In French, every noun has a gender classification: masculine or feminine. This classification affects all the words around the noun that are related to it, such as articles and adjectives.

Identifying Masculine and Feminine Nouns

There are some general guidelines that can help identify the gender of French nouns. For example, nouns ending in '-eau', '-isme', '-ment', and consonant-heavy endings are often masculine.

• le tableau
• le mécanisme
• le gouvernement

Conversely, nouns ending in '-e', '-ion', and '-té' are generally feminine.

• la table
• la sensation
• la liberté

Creating Plurals

To pluralize most French nouns, simply add an '-s' to the end of the singular noun. However, the '-s' is often silent when pronounced.

• le livre -> les livres
• la voiture -> les voitures

Irregular Plural Forms

Just like English, French has irregular plural forms. Some nouns pluralize by changing the ending - rather than just adding an '-s'.

• le cheval -> les chevaux
• le bijou -> les bijoux
• l'œil -> les yeux

Compound Nouns and Their Variability

Compound nouns in French, which are combinations of two or more words, can complicate pluralization rules. Each component may need to be pluralized independently.