“le formulaire” or “la formulaire”? Knowing the correct gender of nouns in French grammar will clarify which form is accurate. This article explains the correct gender for “formulaire” and why, helping you avoid a common error in French.
Le formulaire (correct)
La formulaire (incorrect)
Understanding Gender for Nouns in French
In French, every noun is assigned a gender—either masculine or feminine—which determines the article used with it. While nouns ending in “-e” are often feminine, “formulaire” is one of the exceptions to this rule.
Correct Form: “Le formulaire”
The correct expression is “le formulaire”, with “le” as the masculine article. Here’s why:
- Despite ending in “-e,” “formulaire” is a masculine noun in French.
- Words borrowed from Latin that end in “-aire,” such as “dictionnaire” (dictionary) and “commentaire” (commentary), are generally masculine.
Using “le formulaire” is therefore grammatically correct and the accepted form in both spoken and written French.
Common Mistake: “La formulaire”
A frequent mistake is using “la formulaire” instead of “le formulaire”. This error likely stems from assuming the “-e” ending indicates a feminine noun.
Why “La Formulaire” is Incorrect
- Although many nouns ending in “-e” are feminine, “formulaire” is an exception and remains masculine.
- Using “la” with “formulaire” is incorrect, as it does not match the noun’s designated gender.
Why “Le Formulaire” is the Correct Form
In French, “formulaire” is treated as a masculine noun, making “le formulaire” the only correct option. This rule is consistent with other “-aire” ending nouns that are masculine.
- Examples of other masculine nouns ending in “-aire”:
- “Le dictionnaire” (dictionary) — masculine.
- “Le commentaire” (comment) — masculine.
- “Le vocabulaire” (vocabulary) — masculine.
These examples demonstrate that nouns ending in “-aire” are typically masculine, reinforcing that “le formulaire” is correct.
Additional Examples of Masculine Nouns with “-aire” Ending
Consider other nouns that follow this pattern:
- “Le questionnaire” (questionnaire) — masculine.
- “Le salaire” (salary) — masculine.
- “Le anniversaire” (birthday/anniversary) — masculine.
These examples confirm the pattern of masculine nouns ending in “-aire,” verifying that “le formulaire” is the grammatically accurate choice in French.