Homonymes de genres
While most French nouns are either masculine or feminine, there is a not insignificant list of nouns that have different meanings depending on their gender. These "gender homonyms" are pronounced the same, so it’s particularly important when reading and listening to pay attention to the article or other determiner that signals the gender and therefore meaning.
A
| un aide |
|
une aide |
assistant (m)
|
|
assistant (f)
help, assistance |
| |
|
|
| un aigle |
|
une aigle |
| eagle |
|
heraldic eagle |
| |
|
|
| un air |
|
une aire |
| air, look, aria |
|
area, zone, eyrie |
| |
|
|
| un aller |
|
une allée |
| one-way trip |
|
avenue, path, aisle |
| |
|
|
| un aria |
|
une aria |
| obstacle |
|
aria |
| |
|
|
| un auteur |
|
une hauteur |
| author |
|
height |
B
| le bal |
|
la balle |
|
| dance |
|
ball (sports) |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le bar |
|
la barre |
|
| bar/pub, bass (fish) |
|
bar/rod, barre, helm |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le barbe |
|
la barbe |
les barbes (f) |
| barb |
|
beard |
ragged edge |
| |
|
|
|
| le barde |
|
la barde |
|
| bard (poet) |
|
bard (armor, fat wrapped around meat) |
| |
|
|
|
| le basilic |
|
la basilique |
|
| basil, basilisk |
|
basilica |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le basque |
|
la basque |
|
| Basque language |
|
tails (of a jacket) |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le boum |
|
la boum |
|
| bang, explosion |
|
(inf) party |
|
| (fam) success |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| le bourre |
|
la bourre |
|
| (slang) cop |
|
stuffing |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le bout |
|
la boue |
|
| tip, end |
|
mud |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le bugle |
|
la bugle |
|
| bugle |
|
bugleweed |
|
| |
|
|
|
| le but |
|
la butte |
|
| aim, goal, purpose |
|
hillock, mound |
|
C
| le cache |
|
la cache |
| card/mask (for hiding s.t.) |
|
cache, hiding place |
| |
|
|
| le capital |
|
la capitale |
| capital, money |
|
capital city, capital letter |
| |
|
|
| le carpe |
|
la carpe
|
| carpus |
|
carp |
| |
|
|
| le cartouche |
|
la cartouche
|
| (archeology) cartouche |
|
cartridge, carton |
|
|
|
| le casse |
|
la casse |
| break-in, robber |
|
breaking, damage, breakages |
| |
|
|
| le cave |
|
la cave |
| (familiar) idiot, sucker |
|
basement, cellar |
| |
|
|
| le central |
|
la centrale |
center court,
(telephone) exchange |
|
station, plant, group |
| |
|
|
| le cerf |
|
la serre |
| stag |
|
greenhouse |
| |
|
|
| le champagne |
|
la Champagne |
| champagne |
|
Champagne region |
| |
|
|
| le chêne |
|
la chaîne |
| oak tree/wood |
|
chain, channel, stereo |
| |
|
|
| le chèvre |
|
la chèvre |
| goat cheese |
|
goat |
| |
|
|
| le chine |
|
la chine |
la Chine |
| china, rice paper |
|
second-hand trade |
China |
| |
|
|
| le chose |
|
la chose |
| thingie, contraption |
|
thing |
| |
|
|
| le claque |
|
la claque |
| opera hat, (familiar) brothel |
|
slap |
| |
|
|
| le coche |
|
la coche |
| stagecoach |
|
check mark, tick (on a form) |
| |
|
|
| le col |
|
la colle |
| collar, neck |
|
glue |
| |
|
|
| le coq |
|
la coque |
| rooster |
|
hull, fuselage, cockle |
| |
|
|
| le cours |
le court |
|
la cour |
| class |
(tennis) court |
|
courtyard, court of law |
| |
|
|
| le crème |
|
la crème |
| coffee with cream |
|
cream |
| |
|
|
| le crêpe |
|
la crêpe |
| crepe material |
|
thin pancake |
| |
|
|
| le cric |
|
la crique |
| jack |
|
creek, inlet |
| |
|
|
| le critique |
|
la critique |
critic (m)
|
|
critic (f)
criticism, review |
D
| le diesel |
|
la diesel |
| diesel fuel |
|
diesel automobile |
E
| un enseigne |
|
une enseigne |
| ensign (rank) |
|
sign, ensign (flag, banner) |
| |
|
|
| un épigramme |
|
une épigramme |
| breaded breast of lamb |
|
epigram |
| |
|
|
| un espace |
|
une espace |
une Espace |
| space, room |
|
printing space |
Renault car model |
F
| le fait |
le faîte |
|
la fête |
| fact |
summit, rooftop |
|
party |
| |
|
|
| le faune |
|
la faune |
| faun |
|
fauna |
| |
|
|
| le faux |
|
la faux |
| fake, forgery, falsehood |
|
scythe |
| |
|
|
| le fil |
|
la file |
| thread, string, wire |
|
line, queue |
| |
|
|
| le finale |
|
la finale |
| finale (entertainment) |
|
final (sports) |
| |
|
|
| le foie |
|
la foi |
une fois |
| liver |
|
faith |
once, one time |
| |
|
|
| le foret |
|
la forêt |
| drill bit |
|
forest |
| |
|
|
| le foudre |
|
la foudre |
| large cask, (ironic) leader |
|
lightning |
G
| le garde |
|
la garde |
guard, warden, keeper
|
|
private nurse
guard duty, custody |
| |
|
|
| le gène |
|
la gêne |
| gene |
|
trouble, bother, embarrassment |
| |
|
|
| le geste |
|
la geste |
| gesture |
|
gest, epic poem |
| |
|
|
| le gîte |
|
la gîte |
shelter, cottage;
bottom round (meat) |
|
list, inclination of a ship |
| |
|
|
| le greffe |
|
la greffe |
| court clerk’s office |
|
transplant, graft |
| |
|
|
| le guide |
|
la guide |
les guides (f) |
| guide (book, tour) |
|
girl scout/guide |
reins |
I
| un icone |
|
une icône |
| icon (computer) |
|
icon (art, celebrity) |
| |
|
|
| un interligne |
|
une interligne |
| space (typography) |
|
lead (typography) |
J
| le jars |
|
la jarre |
| gander |
|
earthenware jar |
K
| le kermès |
|
la kermesse |
| scale insect, kermes (tree) |
|
fair, bazaar, charity party |
| |
|
|
| le krach |
|
la craque |
| stock market crash |
|
(familiar) whopping lie |
L
| le laque |
le lac |
|
la laque |
| lacquered object |
lake |
|
lacquer, shellac, hairspray |
| |
|
|
| le légume |
|
la grosse légume (informal) |
| vegetable |
|
big shot |
| |
|
|
| le lieu |
|
la lieue |
| place |
|
league |
| |
|
|
| le livre |
|
la livre |
| book |
|
pound (currency, weight) |
M
| le maire |
|
la mer |
la mère |
| mayor |
|
sea |
mother |
| |
|
|
| le mal |
le mâle |
|
la malle |
| evil |
male |
|
trunk |
| |
|
|
| le manche |
|
la manche |
la Manche |
| handle |
|
sleeve |
English Channel |
| |
|
|
| le manille |
|
la manille |
| Manila cigar, Manila hat |
|
(card game) manille; Manille shackle |
| |
|
|
| le manœuvre |
|
la manœuvre |
| laborer |
|
maneuver, operation |
| |
|
|
| le manque |
|
à la manque |
| lack, shortage, fault |
|
(familiar) lousy, second-rate |
| |
|
|
| le mari |
|
la mari |
Marie |
| husband |
|
marijuana (apocope) |
girl’s name |
| |
|
|
| le martyr |
le martyre |
|
la martyre |
martyr (m)
|
martyrdom,
agony |
|
martyr (f)
|
| |
|
|
| le mort |
|
la mort |
| dead body |
|
death |
| le Maure
|
le mors |
|
|
| Moor |
bit (horse) |
|
|
| |
|
|
| le mauve |
|
la mauve |
| mauve |
|
mallow plant |
| |
|
|
| le mec (informal) |
|
la Mecque |
| guy, bloke |
|
Mecca |
| |
|
|
| le mégot |
|
la mégot |
| cigarette butt |
|
cigarette |
| |
|
|
| le mémoire |
|
la mémoire |
| memo, report, memoirs |
|
memory |
| |
|
|
| le merci |
|
la merci |
| thanks |
|
mercy |
| |
|
|
| le mi |
|
la mie |
| mi (musical note E) |
|
soft part of bread |
| |
|
|
| le mi-temps |
|
la mi-temps |
| (work) part-time |
|
(sports) half, half-time |
| |
|
|
| le micro-onde |
|
la micro-onde |
| microwave oven |
|
microwave (electromagnetic radiation) |
| |
|
|
| le mite |
|
la mythe |
| moth |
|
myth |
| |
|
|
| le mode |
|
la mode |
| method, way, mood |
|
fashion |
| |
|
|
| le moral |
|
la morale |
| morale |
|
moral (of a story), morals |
| |
|
|
| le mou |
|
la moue |
| softness |
|
pout |
| |
|
|
| le moule |
|
la moule |
| mold |
|
mussel |
| |
|
|
| le mousse |
|
la mousse |
| ship’s boy (apprentice) |
|
moss, froth, foam, mousse |
| |
|
|
| le mur |
|
la mûre |
| wall |
|
blackberry |
N
| le nocturne |
|
la nocturne |
night hunter (bird),
nocturn (religion),
nocturne (music, art) |
|
late night store opening,
sports match,
meeting |
O
| un œuvre |
|
une œuvre |
| body of work |
|
piece of work, task |
| |
|
|
| un ombre |
|
une ombre |
| grayling (fish) |
|
shade, shadow |
| |
|
|
| orange (m) |
|
une orange |
| orange color |
|
orange (fruit) |
P
| le page |
|
la page |
| page boy |
|
page (of a book) |
| |
|
|
| le pair |
le père |
|
la paire |
| peer |
father |
|
pair |
| |
|
|
| Pâques (m) |
|
la pâque |
les Pâques (f) |
| Easter |
|
Passover |
Easter |
| |
|
|
| le parallèle |
|
la parallèle |
| parallel (figurative) |
|
parallel line |
| |
|
|
| le passe |
|
la passe |
master/skeleton key,
subscription |
|
pass (sports), channel (water) |
| |
|
|
| le pendule |
|
la pendule |
| pendulum |
|
clock |
| |
|
|
| personne (m) |
|
la personne |
| (negative pronoun) no one |
|
person |
| |
|
|
| le pet |
|
la paie |
la paix |
| (familiar) fart |
|
pay |
peace |
| |
|
|
| le physique |
|
la physique |
| physique, face |
|
physics |
| |
|
|
| le plastique |
|
la plastique |
| plastic |
|
modeling arts, body shape |
| |
|
|
| le platine |
|
la platine |
| platinum |
|
turntable, deck, strip of metal |
| |
|
|
| le poche |
|
la poche |
| paperback book |
|
pocket, pouch |
| |
|
|
| le poêle |
le poil |
|
la poêle |
| stove |
hair |
|
frying pan |
| |
|
|
| le poids |
le pois |
|
la poix |
| weight |
pea, dot |
|
pitch, tar |
| |
|
|
| le poignet |
|
la poignée |
| wrist, (shirt) cuff |
|
handful, fistful; handle |
| |
|
|
| le poison |
|
la poison |
poison,
(inf) unpleasant man/boy |
|
(inf) unpleasant woman/girl |
| |
|
|
| le politique |
|
la politique |
| politician |
|
politics, policy |
| |
|
|
| le ponte |
|
la ponte |
| (informal) big shot |
|
egg laying, clutch of eggs |
| |
|
|
| le poste |
|
la poste |
| job, post, tv/radio set |
|
post office, mail/post |
| |
|
|
| le pot |
|
la peau |
| jar, pot, tin, can |
|
skin |
| |
|
|
| le pub |
|
la pub |
| pub/bar |
|
ad (apocope of publicité) |
| |
|
|
| le pupille |
|
la pupille |
ward (m)
|
|
ward (f)
pupil (eye) |
R
| le rade (slang) |
|
la rade |
| bar, bistro |
|
harbor |
| |
|
|
| le radio |
|
la radio |
| radio operator |
|
radio, X-ray |
| |
|
|
| le rai |
|
la raie |
| spoke (wheel) |
|
line, furrow, scratch (fish) skate, ray |
| |
|
|
| le réclame |
|
la réclame |
en réclame |
| (falconry) reclaim
|
|
publicity |
on sale |
| |
|
|
| le renne |
|
la reine |
la rêne |
| reindeer |
|
queen |
rein |
| |
|
|
| le rose |
|
la rose |
| pink color |
|
rose (flower) |
| |
|
|
| le roux |
|
la roue |
| red, redhead, roux (soup base) |
|
wheel |
S
| le secrétaire |
|
la secrétaire |
secretary (m)
writing desk, secretary |
|
secretary (f)
|
| |
|
|
| le sel |
|
la selle |
| salt |
|
saddle |
| |
|
|
| le soi |
|
la soie |
| self, id |
|
silk |
| |
|
|
| le sol |
|
la sole |
| ground, floor, soil |
|
sole (fish) |
| |
|
|
| le solde |
|
la solde |
| balance (account), sale |
|
pay |
| |
|
|
| le somme |
|
la somme |
la Somme |
| snooze, nap |
|
sum, amount |
Somme (French department, river) |
| |
|
|
| le souris |
|
la souris |
| smile (archaic) |
|
mouse |
| |
|
|
| le statut |
|
la statue |
| statute |
|
statue |
T
| le tic |
|
la tique |
| tic, twitch |
|
tick |
| |
|
|
| le tour |
|
la tour |
| tour, turn, trick |
|
tower, rook (chess) |
| |
|
|
| le tout |
|
la toux |
| whole |
|
cough |
| |
|
|
| le trompette |
|
la trompette |
| trumpeter |
|
trumpet |
V
| le vague |
|
la vague |
| vagueness |
|
wave |
| |
|
|
| le vapeur |
|
la vapeur |
| steamer |
|
steam, haze, vapor |
| |
|
|
| le vase |
|
la vase |
| vase |
|
silt, mud |
| |
|
|
| le vigile |
|
la vigile |
| night watchman |
|
vigil |
| |
|
|
| le visa |
|
la visa |
| visa (to enter a country) |
|
Visa (credit card) |
| |
|
|
| le voile |
|
la voile |
| veil |
|
sail, sailing |
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