Common mistakes
French noun gender surprises: la plage, le problème, la photo and more
Check 16 French nouns whose endings can mislead you, including la plage, le musée and l’eau, with adjective clues and a five-question gender quiz.
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In short
Learn la plage, le problème and la photo with their articles. Endings give useful clues, but these 16 nouns need a closer look: some break a pattern, some are shortened words, and some hide their gender after l’.
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- la plagele plagethe beach · feminine
La plage est belle ce matin.The beach is beautiful this morning.
An ending in -age often points to a masculine noun, but plage is feminine. Pair it with la page: both use la.
- la pagele page (for a page in a book)the page · feminine
Cette page est blanche.This page is blank.
For a page in a book, use une page. Keep it with a feminine adjective: une page blanche.
- le problèmela problèmethe problem · masculine
C’est un petit problème.It’s a small problem.
The final -e does not make this noun feminine. Learn the phrase un petit problème.
- le programmela programmethe programme · masculine
Le programme est complet.The programme is complete.
Keep le for a programme, schedule or computer program: un programme complet.
- le systèmela systèmethe system · masculine
Ce système est simple.This system is simple.
Like le problème, le système is masculine despite its final -e.
- le muséela muséethe museum · masculine
Le musée est fermé le lundi.The museum is closed on Mondays.
Do not use the ending -ée alone to choose a gender. Learn un musée fermé.
- le lycéela lycéethe upper secondary school · masculine
Le lycée est près de la gare.The upper secondary school is near the station.
This is another masculine noun ending in -ée: un lycée, alongside un musée.
- la photole photothe photo · feminine
La photo est floue.The photo is blurred.
The short form keeps the gender of la photographie: une photo floue.
- la vidéole vidéothe video · feminine
Cette vidéo est courte.This video is short.
Learn the noun as une vidéo, with a feminine adjective such as courte.
- la météole météothe weather forecast · feminine
J’écoute la météo à la radio.I’m listening to the weather forecast on the radio.
The shortened noun keeps the feminine gender of la météorologie. For the weather itself, use le temps.
- la radiole radio (for the set or medium)the radio · feminine
La radio est allumée.The radio is on.
For the radio set or medium, use la radio. A short word ending in -o can be feminine.
- la mainle mainthe hand · feminine
Elle lève la main droite.She raises her right hand.
Learn the whole unit la main droite. Its feminine adjective makes the pattern visible.
- l’eau (f.)un eauwater · feminine
L’eau est froide.The water is cold.
The apostrophe hides the gender. An adjective reveals it: de l’eau froide.
- l’image (f.)un imagethe image · feminine
C’est une belle image.It’s a beautiful image.
The apostrophe in l’image tells you nothing about gender. Use une image to make it clear.
- l’âge (m.)une âgeage · masculine
Quel âge a votre fils ?How old is your son?
Use masculine quel in the question quel âge ? The final -e is no guide here.
- le silencela silencesilence · masculine
Le silence est agréable.The silence is pleasant.
Many nouns in -ence are feminine, but silence is masculine. Learn un long silence.
Which French nouns have a surprising gender?
| Noun | With an adjective | With a preposition |
|---|---|---|
| la plage | une belle plage | à la plage |
| le musée | un petit musée | au musée |
| la photo | une photo ancienne | à la photo |
| l’image (f.) | une image ancienne | à l’image |
An apostrophe means that the article has lost its vowel; it does not mean the noun is masculine. Compare l’eau froide with l’âge exact. In the plural, les also hides gender: les photos anciennes, les musées fermés. The adjective still agrees with the noun.