Common mistakes
Le livre or la livre? Four French nouns with two genders
Learn livre, tour, manche and mode through meaning pairs, picture cards and a short quiz. The article can change the meaning of the whole phrase.
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In short
Some French nouns change meaning with gender: un livre is a book; une livre is a pound. Compare the whole phrase, including its article: le manche de la casserole is the handle, while la manche de la veste is the sleeve.
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- un livrea pounda book
Je lis un livre sur Paris.I’m reading a book about Paris.
For a pound of currency, use une livre sterling: Ce billet coûte dix livres sterling.
- une toura turna tower
La tour du château est très haute.The castle tower is very tall.
For a turn, use un tour: C’est ton tour. For a short walk, say faire un tour.
- une manchea handlea sleeve
La manche de ma chemise est trop longue.My shirt sleeve is too long.
A handle is un manche: Le manche de cette casserole est chaud. A round of a game is also une manche.
- le modefashiona mode or setting
Je choisis le mode silencieux.I choose silent mode.
Fashion is la mode. Ces chaussures sont à la mode means these shoes are fashionable.
Which French nouns change meaning with their gender?
Four concrete meanings
Find:
| Meaning | Masculine phrase | Feminine phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Handle / sleeve | Le manche est long. | La manche est longue. |
| Turn / tower | Un tour rapide | Une tour ancienne |
| Book / currency | Un livre intéressant | Une livre sterling |
The feminine forms in une manche longue and une tour ancienne reinforce the meaning. In the plural, les hides gender: les manches longues means long sleeves, while les manches longs can describe long handles. The adjective and the surrounding words still help.
- Lina
On fait un tour avant de visiter la tour ?
Shall we go for a walk before visiting the tower?
- Sam
D’accord. Je prends mon livre et ma veste.
All right. I’ll take my book and my jacket.
- Lina
Attends, la manche de ta veste est mouillée.
Wait, your jacket sleeve is wet.
Gender gives you a starting point, and context finishes the job. Un tour can be a turn, a circuit or a trick. Une livre can name currency or a unit of weight. In dix livres sterling, the word sterling makes the money meaning clear.