How can I tell if a French noun is masculine or feminine?

The ending is the best clue. Nouns in -tion, -sion, -té and -ure are usually feminine; nouns in -ment, -age, -isme and -eau are usually masculine. For the rest, learn each noun with un or une.

Why does gender matter so much in French?

Because the whole group agrees with the noun: une petite maison blanche. One wrong gender can mean three mistakes in a single phrase.

Are there exceptions to the gender rules?

Yes, and the game shows them: une page, une image and une plage end in -age but are feminine; un été ends in -té but is masculine.

French noun gender quiz: un or une?

Masculin ou féminin

Choose un or une for each noun. After every answer you see the rule behind its ending, so you learn patterns, not just words. Three lives: how far can you go?

2 min a round
Free, no sign-up
Writing
Speaking

Three lives. Learn the endings: after each answer you see the rule (-tion, -ment, -age…) and its exceptions.

How to play

1Choose un or une for each noun.
2After each answer, see the rule from its ending.
3Three lives: how far can you go?

What it trains

The gender of exam nouns, plus 28 reliable endings that predict it, with their exceptions.

Why it matters for TCF and TEF Canada

Gender decides the article, the adjectives and sometimes the past participle around a noun, so one wrong gender can cause several agreement errors in a sentence. Once the common endings are automatic, writing and speaking accuracy improves quickly.

Practise writing in the real format: TCF Canada writing practice · TEF Canada writing practice

Learn while you play

Rules and tips to remember

Usually feminine
-tion, -sion, -té, -ure, -ence, -ance, -aison: une situation, une université, une voiture.
Usually masculine
-ment, -age, -isme, -eau: un logement, un voyage, un bureau. Watch une page, une image, une plage and l’eau, which are feminine.
A final e doesn’t mean feminine
un problème, un système, un musée and un groupe are all masculine.

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