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French Compound Nouns - Gender - Les noms composés et le genre

How to determine the gender of French compound nouns

Compound nouns:   Gender | Plurals

French compound nouns are made up of two or more words often connected by hyphens. Figuring out their gender can be a little tricky; however, the majority of compound nouns are masculine, so when in doubt you can always fall back on that. But of course it's better to know the gender of the words you're using, so here are some rules that can help you to determine the gender of compound nouns.

I. Noun + noun
    Gender matches that of the primary (more important) noun
un chou-fleur cauliflower
un oiseau-mouche hummingbird
  une station-service service station
  une pause-café coffee break
    
II. Adjective, adverb, preposition, or verb + noun
  Gender matches that of the noun
un après-midi afternoon
un coffre-fort safe
un couvre-lit bedspread
un gratte-ciel skyscraper
un haut-parleur loudspeaker
un pour-cent percent
une chauve-souris bat
une demi-heure* half hour
  une grand-mère* grandmother
  *Note that the adjectives are invariable
    
III. Adjective + adjective
  Gender matches that of the adjectives
un sourd-muet deaf mute
une douce-amère bittersweet, woody nightshade
    
IV. Exceptions to above
  un brise-glace ice breaker
  un en-tête heading
  un garde-pêche fish [and game] warden
  un porte-monnaie wallet, coin purse
  un rouge-gorge robin
  un tête-à-tête private conversation
     
V. The prefix mi-
  Always feminine
  la mi-janvier mid-January
  la mi-été mid-summer
  la mi-temps (sports) half-time
  One exception: mi-temps (part-time work) is masculine.
     
VI. Other combinations (adverb + past participle or verb; verb + verb)
  Usually masculine
un nouveau-né newborn
un bien-aimé beloved
un laissez-passer pass
le va-et-vient comings and goings

  

French gender     Plurals of compound nouns

Grammar glossary     Agreement

  

  

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