A1BeginnerNouns and adjectives · Point 8 / 40
un, une, des, le / la / les
Every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine.
| Article | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| un | — | indefinite masculine article, “a/an” |
| une | — | indefinite feminine article, “a/an” |
| des | — | indefinite plural article, “some” |
| le / la / les | — | definite article, “the” |
Learn every new word together with its article: “la carte”, “un numéro”. Gender can’t be guessed.
Examples from our dialogues 5 · 5 with audio
- Listen
Est-ce qu'il faut une carte pour avoir le rabais ?
Do I need a card to get the discount?
Check The Full DialogueUsing a flyer special
- Listen
Bonjour. Avez-vous pris un numéro à l'entrée ?
Hello. Did you take a number at the entrance?
Check The Full DialogueAt a government counter
- Listen
Et la carte de débit, je l'ai tout de suite ?
And the debit card — do I get it right away?
Check The Full DialogueOpening a bank account
- Listen
Et je dépose le formulaire où ?
And where do I submit the form?
Check The Full DialogueAt the immigration counter
- Listen
Pas de problème. Suivez-moi, j'ai une table libre.
No problem. Follow me, I have a free table.
Check The Full DialogueArriving at the restaurant
Common mistakes
Voici le carte d'assurance maladie.Voici la carte d'assurance maladie.
“Carte” is feminine: “la carte”, “une carte”. Gender can’t be guessed — learn it with the word.
J'ai le rendez-vous demain.J'ai un rendez-vous demain.
When you mention an appointment for the first time, say “un rendez-vous”. “Le” is for when the other person already knows which appointment you mean.
Practise speaking
Les achats et commercesShopping and commerce
Shopping, paying, returning an item — the French of stores and customer service.
These dialogues use this point. They open on the dialogue page (audio, vocabulary to save).