If you have studied a Latin-based Foreign language before, you may already be familiar with the idea of words being feminine or masculine. El libro is the Spanish word for "the book" in English. It is a masculine word. (In Spanish, el=masculine and la=feminine)
French words follow a similar pattern. There are a few clues that can let you know which words are masculine/Feminine in French, but, generally, you will have to memorize the gender of the words as you learn them. The book I am using to learn French does a pretty good job of reviewing this topic.
You can tell if a word is masculine or feminine by looking at the definite article in front of the word. Le chat (the cat) is masculine because "LE" is the article for masculine words.
“There are 2 types of articles. A definite article and an indefinite article.
A definite article = “the” ex. Le chat (the cat)
An indefinite article= “a” or “an” ex. Un chat (a cat)”
Masculine definite article (THE)
- LE (pronounced luh)
- LES (plural=pronounced lay)
example: Le chat/Les chats = the cat/the cat. Listen to the word Le chat pronounced here.
Feminine
- LA (pronounced la)
- LES (plural=pronounced lay)
example: La vache/les vaches = the language/the languages. Listen to the word la vache pronounced here.
Masculine or Feminine before a vowel sound or mute h
If a noun starts with a vowel the definite article l' is used before all singular masculine or feminine nouns starting with a vowel or a mute h. The -e or -a of the definite article is dropped. When a noun starts with an h, pronounce the vowel following the h.
l'ami (masculine) the friend l'amie (feminine) the friend
l'anglais (masculine) the english language
l'emploi (m) the job
More examples
Le cours the class/course (masculine)
Le livre the book (masculine)
Le vin the wine (masculine)
La chemise the shirt (feminine)
La femme the woman, the wife (feminine)
l'histoire the story/history (feminine)
l'organge the orange fruit (feminine)
Questions? Please comment below.