Homophones

In French, there are many nouns that have the same sound but different genders and meanings. Here’s a list of some examples:

  1. Le tour (the tour) / La tour (the tower)
  2. Les cours [masc. plural] (the lesson, class, course) / La cour (the court, courtyard)
  3. Le mousse (the foam) / La mousse (the moss)
  4. Le poste (the position or job) / La poste (the post office)
  5. Le manche (the handle) / La manche (the sleeve)
  6. Le pêche (fishing) / La pêche (peach)
  7. Le conte (the story) / La comte (the countess)
  8. Le masque (the mask) / La masque (the blush)
  9. Le mode (the mode or fashion) / La mode (the fashion)
  10. Le vase (the vase) / La vase (the mud)
  11. Le livre (the book) / La livre (the pound)
  12. Le foie (the liver) / La foi (faith)
  13. Le mur (the wall) / La mûre (the blackberry)
  14. Le sel (the salt) / La selle (the saddle)
  15. Le maire (the mayor) / La mer (the sea)
  16. Le poil (the hair) / La poêle (the pan)
  17. Le bas (the lower part) / La bât (the pack-saddle)

These nouns are homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings and genders.

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • Verbs of thinking

    Four verbs that often cause confusion among learners are “penser,” “croire,” “songer,” and “réfléchir/réfléchir à.” Each of these verbs conveys a distinct way of thinking or considering ideas. 1. Penser: 2. Croire: 3. Songer: 4. Réfléchir / Réfléchir à: In summary, “penser” is for general thoughts and opinions, “croire” is for beliefs and faith, “songer”…

  • taille vs pointure

    In French, the nouns “la taille” and “la pointure” are both used when talking about sizes, but they refer to different contexts. Understanding their meanings and usage will help you navigate conversations about clothing, shoes, and measurements more effectively. “La taille” 1. Clothing size 2. Waist 3. Height 4. Connection to “tailleur” “La pointure” 1….

  • people

    There are several French words for “people,” including personne, gens, peuple, monde, âme, populations, public and individu. personne Personne means a single person. It is feminine even for a man. It often follows une (a) or la (the). It can be used with an adjective after it. Examples: Personne alone can also mean “nobody,” but…

  • parer

    The French verb “parer” means “to ward off,” “to parry,” or “to fend off.” It can also mean “to protect,” “to attribute” or “to adorn.” So many meanings for one verb!

  • en catimini

    “En catimini” is a French expression that means furtively, stealthily, on the sly or discreetly. It dates back to the second half of the 14th century. The word “catimini” is often linked to the Greek word “katamenia” which means menstruation. The idea being that women of the era kept their menstrual status largely to themselves….

  • save

    How do you translate “to save” into French? It depends on what you’re saving. If you’re saving someone in the sense of rescuing them, use “sauver.” If you’re saving money by spending less, use “économiser.” If you’re saving money by putting money aside, then use “épargner.” If you’re saving time, use “gagner.” If you’re saving…