8.1.4

Feminine

Test yourself

Feminine Singular Nouns

Here are some common feminine noun endings that will help you to know that the noun needs 'la' or 'une' before it. Generally, most feminine nouns end in 'e'. There are a few exceptions to every ending.

Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'e + double consonant (e.g. ll) + e'Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'e + double consonant (e.g. ll) + e' ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'e + double consonant (e.g. ll) + e'

  • La femme - the women.
  • La terre - the earth.
  • La chaussette - the sock.
  • La tristesse - the sadness.
    • There is only one exception:
  • Le squelette - the skeleton.
Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ace' Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ace'  ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'ace'

  • La face - the front.
  • La glace 🍦 - the ice cream .
  • La place - the place.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'tion' Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'tion'  ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'tion'

  • La situation - the situation.
  • La nation - the nation.
  • L'éducation - the education.
  • La question - the question
    • There are a lot of words in French that end in 'tion' and only one exception:
  • Le bastion - the bastion, stronghold.
    • Be careful with words that just end in ion. These are usually masculine.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'sion'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'sion' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'sion'

  • La passion - the passion.
  • La répression - the represion.
  • L'émission - the program.
  • La pression - the pressure.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ie'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ie' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'ie'

  • L'éclaircie - bright spell.
  • La pluie - the rain.
  • La sortie - the exit.
  • La soie - the silk.
  • La vie - life.

Feminine Singular Nouns

Here are some common feminine noun endings that will help you to know that the noun needs 'la' or 'une' before it. Generally, most feminine nouns end in 'e'. There are a few exceptions to every ending.

Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ence'Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ence' ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'ence'

  • La patience - patience.
  • La conscience - conscience.
  • L'agence - the agency.
  • L'essence - petrol.
    • There is only one exception:
      • Le silence - the silence.
Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ance' Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ance'  ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'ance'

  • La chance - luck.
  • La naissance - birth.
  • La connaissance - knowledge.
  • Les vacances - holiday
    • Although it has an 's' 'danse' in French is feminine.
      • La danse - the danse
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ée' Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ée'  ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'ée'

  • L'idée - the idea.
  • L'année - the year.
  • La journée - the day.
  • L'entrée - the entry.
    • There are two common exceptions:
  • Le lycée - the school.
  • Le musée - the museum.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'aine'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'aine' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'aine'

  • Une quinzaine - a fortnight.
  • Une centaine - a hundred.
  • Une douzaine - a dozen.
  • Une semaine - a week.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ine'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ine' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'ine'

  • La cousine - cousin.
  • La poitrine - chest.
  • La peine - the bother.
  • La piscine - the pool.
    • An exception is:
      • Un magazine - a magazine.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'que'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'que' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'que'

  • La magique - the magic.
  • La musique - the music.
  • La bibliothèque - the library.
  • L'informatique - IT.
    • Some exceptions are:
      • Le risque - the risk.
      • Le plastique - plastic.

Feminine Singular Nouns

Here are some common feminine noun endings that will help you to know that the noun needs 'la' or 'une' before it. Generally, most feminine nouns end in 'e'. There are a few exceptions to every ending.

Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ure'Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'ure' ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'ure'

  • La chaussure - the shoe.
  • La blessure - the wound.
  • La nourriture - the food.
  • La pointure - the size (shoe).
Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'rice' Illustrative background for Nouns ending in 'rice'  ?? "content

Nouns ending in 'rice'

  • 'rice' is a common ending for jobs that are held by women.
    • L'institutrice - female primary school teacher.
    • La traductrice - female translator.
    • L'actrice - actress.
    • La directrice - the head teacher
  • An exception is:
    • Le dentifrice - the toothpaste.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ère' Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'ère'  ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'ère'

  • La bière - the beer.
  • La mère - the mother.
  • La manière - the way.
  • La boulangère - the female baker.
    • There are two common exceptions:
      • Le père - the father.
      • Le frère - the brother.
Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'tude'Illustrative background for Nouns that end in 'tude' ?? "content

Nouns that end in 'tude'

  • L'habitude - the habit.
  • La étude - the study.
  • La solitude - solitude.
  • La gratitude - gratitude.

Jump to other topics

1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1Alphabet & Accents

2Family & Home

3Lifestyle

4Education & Future Plans

5Leisure, Free Time & Media

6Wider World

7Grammar

7.1Present Tense

7.2Perfect Tense

7.3Imperfect Tense

7.4Future Tense

7.5Conditional Tense

7.6Passive

7.7Imperative

8Other Grammar

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson