Le or la? The French gender quiz
20 everyday nouns. Pick the article, and learn the rule of thumb behind each one.
- 20 everyday French nouns: is it le or la?
- After each one, the rule of thumb that would have told you
- One minute, free, no sign-up
Endings that give gender away
Usually feminine (la)
-tion, -sion, -té, -ette, -ence, -ance, -ure, -ée, -ie
la nation, la liberté, la baguette, la voiture
Usually masculine (le)
-ment, -age, -eau, -isme, -oir, -o, -ou, -i
le moment, le fromage, le bateau, le soir
Questions
How do I know if a French noun is masculine or feminine?
The ending is the best clue. Nouns in -tion, -sion, -té, -ette, -ence, -ance and -ure are usually feminine; nouns in -ment, -age, -eau, -isme and -oir are usually masculine. There are exceptions, so learn each noun with its article.
Why does gender matter in French?
It changes the article (le/la, un/une), the adjectives (petit/petite) and the pronouns that refer back to the noun. Getting it wrong is understandable but sounds off to native speakers.
What's the best way to learn genders?
Never learn a noun without its article: learn "la maison", not "maison". Flashcards with spaced repetition make the pairing automatic.