français · A1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Un, une, le, and la
Store each noun with the article that reveals its grammatical gender.
Understand the choice
Articles are part of a French noun’s usable identity. Endings offer clues, but learning la table and le canapé as complete units prepares adjective agreement, pronouns, and contractions later.
Core rule: French singular nouns are masculine or feminine; indefinite articles are un/une and definite articles are le/la, with l’ before a vowel sound.
Notice it in context
La table et le canapé sont dans le salon.
The table and the sofa are in the living room.
Table is feminine with la; canapé is masculine with le despite its final -é.
Le problème est dans la cuisine.
The problem is in the kitchen.
Problème is masculine despite final -e; cuisine is feminine.
L’école est près du musée.
The school is near the museum.
L’ hides the gender of école; du contracts de + le before musée.
What to remember
- Nouns ending in -tion are often feminine; -age and -ment are often masculine, but exceptions remain.
- Before a vowel sound, le and la both elide to l’, so another source must preserve gender: une école, un hôtel.
Common trap: Do not guess gender from the English referent or from final -e alone. Learn le musée, la main, and le problème with their articles.