The Definite Article (special cases)

Objective: I can apply special rules in order to state if a noun is masculine or feminine.

Gender of nouns

All languages are masculine

​language tip 2

​The days of the week, the months of the year, the seasons and all colors used as nouns are masculine

time tip 1

New rules

nouns ending in -a, -age, -as,
-emme, - gramme, -ier, -in, -isme,
-logue, -oir, -ours, -scope are
masculine
exceptions
l'image, la page, la rage, la crème

special endings tip 4

​The names of all metals and elements are masculine.
l'argent, le cuivre (copper), le fer (iron), l'or pur (pure gold), le cobalt

elements tip 3

New rules

words ending in -eur can be masculine or feminine. If the meaning is concrete, it's usually masculine. If it is more abstract, it is generally feminine.
le professeur/la professeure
le facteur, la peur

-eur tip 6

​adjectives, verbs, and adverbs used as nouns are always masculine
le beau, le réel, le savoir, le toucher, le bien, le mal

other parts of speech
tip 5

New rules

Nouns ending in -isn are usually masculine

l'avis, le mépris, le paradis, le radis

exceptions : la brebis, la souris

-is tip 8

The last rule is reliable, but there are always exceptions

le bonheur, la fleur, la couleurs

exceptions tip 7

New rules

Most sciences are feminine
la botanique, la chimie, la physique, la biologie

sciences tip 10

nouns ending in -ade, -ance, -ande, -aille, -aison, -ence, -euse, -ique, -ise, -ison, -nne, -ose, -sse, -tié, -trice, -ude, and -ure

feminine tip 9

New rules

Many fruits are feminine. The names of most trees are masculine.

la pomme, le pommier
la poire, le poirier
la cerise, le cersisier
exceptions
le citron, le pamplemousse, le raison

foods tip 11

all words ending in -tion are also feminine

la nation, la satisfaction

-tion tip 10

New rules

la noix, le noyer
la noisette, le noisetier

foods tip 13

Distinction between fruits and trees they come from exists for nuts as well

foods tip 12

New rules

some nouns change meaning through gender

le livre (book) la livre (pound)
le tour (turn, spin, ride, stroll)
la tour (tower)
Le Tour de France, La Tour Eiffel

Gender tip 15

some can be masculine and feminine without changing the form

un enfant, une enfant, un élève, une élève

forms tip 14

New rules