Definite Articles: Le, La, Les, and L'
Choosing the right 'the' in French
Category: Gendered Nouns
The Rule
Use le (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), l' (before a vowel or mute h), and les (all plurals).
Why This Matters
English has just one definite article: 'the.' French has four forms depending on gender, number, and whether the next word starts with a vowel. English speakers must train themselves to always think about the noun's gender before choosing the article.
Examples
• Le garçon mange une pomme. — "The boy eats an apple." [le = masculine singular] • La fille lit un livre. — "The girl reads a book." [la = feminine singular] • L'école est fermée. — "The school is closed." [l' before vowel (école is feminine)] • Les enfants jouent dehors. — "The children play outside." [les = plural (gender doesn't matter)] • L'homme est grand. — "The man is tall." [l' before mute h]
Common Mistakes
❌ La homme est grand. ✅ L'homme est grand. → Before a vowel or mute h, both le and la become l'. ❌ Le école est fermée. ✅ L'école est fermée. → École starts with a vowel, so la becomes l'. The gender is still feminine (fermée).
Quick Tip
When you see l', check the adjective or past participle to determine gender. L'école fermée tells you école is feminine because of the -ée ending on fermée.
When you see l', check the adjective or past participle to determine gender. L'école fermée tells you école is feminine because of the -ée ending on fermée.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: La homme est grand. → Correct: L'homme est grand.. Before a vowel or mute h, both le and la become l'.
Incorrect: Le école est fermée. → Correct: L'école est fermée.. École starts with a vowel, so la becomes l'. The gender is still feminine (fermée).
Quiz
How do you say 'the water' in French? (eau = feminine)