“le Nutella” ou “la Nutella”? Understanding the gender of nouns in French grammar will clarify which form is correct. This article explains the correct gender to use with “Nutella”, helping you avoid a common mistake in spoken and written French.
Le Nutella (correct)
La Nutella (incorrect)
Understanding Gender Assignment to Brand Names
In French, nouns are either masculine or feminine, and brand names can sometimes create confusion about which gender to use. The gender assigned to a brand name generally follows specific guidelines based on the implied product or category.
Forme correcte : “Le Nutella”
L'expression correcte est “le Nutella”où “le” indicates the masculine gender. In this case:
- “Nutella” refers to a chocolate and hazelnut spread, and the category of se propager (“pâte à tartiner”) is generally masculine.
- By convention, French speakers treat Nutella as a masculine noun.
L'utilisation “le Nutella” is widely accepted and grammatically correct in French, aligning with the implied masculine noun “pâte” (spread) and matching similar brand names that refer to masculine products.
Erreur fréquente : “La Nutella”
Une erreur fréquente consiste à utiliser “la Nutella” au lieu de “le Nutella”. This can occur due to confusion with other feminine food products or a misunderstanding of gender assignment rules.
Pourquoi “La Nutella” est incorrect
- Although some food products in French are feminine, Nutella is considered masculine, and therefore “la Nutella” does not align with standard usage.
- Associating “Nutella” with feminine articles might stem from hearing similar names with feminine nouns, but it does not apply here.
Pourquoi “Le Nutella” est la forme correcte
En français, Nutella is treated as a masculine noun due to its implied product category (spread) and the conventions of brand names. This makes “le Nutella” the only correct and widely accepted form.
- Examples with other similar masculine food items:
- “Le Coca-Cola” (referring to soda, which is masculine).
- “Le Roquefort” (referring to cheese, also masculine).
- “Le Camembert” (another masculine cheese name).
These examples show how specific food brands and categories can determine the gender, reaffirming that “le Nutella” est la forme correcte.
Additional Examples of Gendered Brand Names for Reference
Consider other brand names with specific gender assignments:
- “La Vache qui Rit” (The Laughing Cow) — feminine due to “vache” (cow).
- “Le Kiri” (a brand of cheese) — masculine, treated similarly to “Nutella”.
- “Le Brie” (a type of cheese) — masculine, referring to the cheese category.
These examples emphasize the consistency of gender assignments for brand names, reinforcing why “le Nutella” is grammatically accurate.