Gender that Makes Sense
| People nouns |
People nouns are generally easy. If a person is a male then the noun is masculine and a masculine article is used, if the person is female then the noun is feminine and a feminine article is used.
| acrobate adulte aide aristocrate artiste astronaute bureaucrate camarade |
acrobat |
comptable concierge cycliste dentiste élève enfant fleuriste |
accountant caretaker cyclist dentist student child florist |
gosse hypocrite journaliste juge nationaliste pirate scientifique |
kid hypocrite journalist judge nationalist pirate scientist |
Many people nouns have masculine and a feminine forms.Elle embrasse un cycliste.
She is kissing a cyclist (male).
| l'employé le fermier le cousin l'anglais le champion l'européen le vendeur l'acteur le veuf |
l'employée la fermière la cousine l'anglaise la championne l'européenne la vendeuse l'actrice la veuve |
employee farmer cousin Englishman/woman champion european salesman/woman actor/actress widower/widow |
There are people nouns, however, which are always of a particular gender no matter what the sex of the person.
| la vedette le capitaine le savant le mannequin le clown le pilot |
star (actor/actress) capitan wise person fashion model clown pilot |
Paul Belmondo est ma vedette préférée.
Paul Belmondo is my favorite actor/star.
Practice the gender of people nouns
| Animals |
Some animals have both male and female versions.
| un homme un chat un chien un ours un rat un cheval un taureau un coq un renard |
une femme une chatte une chienne une ourse une rate une jument une vache une poule une renarde |
human cat dog bear rat horse bull/cow rooster/chicken fox |
Most species of animals are either masculine or feminine and both species of animals are referred to with the same gender.
| le zèbre l'oiseau le hibou le crapaud la girafe l'huître |
zebra bird owl toad giraffe oyster |