Now that you know the different noun types, MOLKOÏ will help you dress them with their first layer: their gender. Just like in English, it can be feminin, masculin or neutral and we have simple mnemonics to help you choose accordingly. Let's start with the "noms animés" (animated nouns type).
The Rule
The "noms animés" are used in their masculin / feminin form according to the sex of the being they refer to. The masculin / feminin form is carried in the noun itself and in the determiner that introduces it.
|
Masculin
|
Mnemonics |
Feminin
|
|
un ami
|
To words ending with -i => add an e
|
une amie
|
|
un policier
|
To words ending with -er => change the end into ère
|
une policière
|
|
un sportif
|
To words ending with -f => turn the end into ve
|
une sportive
|
|
un danseur
un époux |
To words ending with -r, -x => turn the end into se
|
une danseuse une épouse |
|
un criminel
un sot un chien |
To words ending with -l, -n, -t => double the last consonant and add an e
|
une criminelle une sotte une chienne |
|
un instituteur
|
To words ending with -teurs => turn the end into -trice
|
une institutrice
|
|
un chameau
|
To words ending with -eau => turn the end into -elle
|
une chamelle
|
Exception #1
There are a few nouns that only carry the masculin / feminin mark in the determiner.
| Masculin | Feminin |
| un propriétaire | une propriétaire |
| un stagiaire | une stagiaire |
| un secrétaire | une secrétaire |
| un ministre | une ministre |
| un pianiste | une pianiste |
| un dentiste | une dentiste |
|
un enfant, etc.
|
une enfant, etc. |
Exception #2
There are nouns that are exclusively used in their masculin form no matter the sex of the beings they refer to.
| Masculin & Feminin |
|
un médecin
|
|
un mannequin
|
|
un juge
|
| un vainqueur |
|
un témoin
|
|
un usager, etc.
|
Exception #3
There are nouns that are exclusively used in their feminin form no matter the sex of the beings they refer to.
| Feminin & Masculin |
|
une altesse
|
|
une canaille
|
| une idole |
|
une personne
|
|
une recrue
|
|
une sentinelle
|
| une star |
|
une vedette
|
| une victime, etc. |
Don't worry. It may seem like a lot at first, but the more you refer to these mnemonics, and the more you practice, the more it will become an automatism.
And when you feel like you're ready, here are a few more exceptions: the weirdos - aka the masculin nouns whose feminin form came out of nowhere it seems 🤨
I hope that helps. If you have any questions, please leave them in a comment below ↓ and we'll answer them as soon as possible. 😉