Me during my French exam wondering what is the gender of a washing machine

ByFast French

Do you feel like the little girl in this meme? Never knowing the gender of a noun in French? There is in fact a logical reason for the gender of a washing machine in French.

A washing machine is a “lave-linge” in French. That word is made up of two individual words: “lave” which comes from “laver” – the verb meaning “to wash.” And “linge” meaning “linen” or “laundry.” So a “lave-linge” is literally a “wash-linen.” Or in English, a washing machine.

The structure of this word is verb-noun. “Lave” is a verb and “linge” is a noun. When you have French words made up of a verb and a noun, they are masculine in gender, not feminine. So it is “le lave-linge” (the washing machine) or “un lave-linge” (a washing machine).

Other examples of this kind of word are “le lave-vaisselle” (the “wash-dishes” or dishwasher), “le porte-monnaie” (the “carry-change” or wallet) and “le pare-brise” (the “shield-breeze” or windshield).

These compound words are all masculine, even if they CONTAIN a feminine noun. Eg “la vaiselle” the dishes is a feminine noun. So too is “la monnaie” the change, or “la brise,” the breeze. The presence of a feminine noun doesn’t change the fact that the compound word is masculine.

Can you guess what “un pince-nez” does or looks like? Hint: it’s a 19th century style of eyeglasses.

Don’t miss out on new posts – subscribe now!

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

  • How to say “under” in French

    ByFast French

    Translating prepositions from one language to another can be a tricky task. One group of prepositions that often poses challenges in learning French is the one containing “under,” “underneath,” “below” and “beneath.” “Sous” The most common and straightforward translation for “under” in French is “sous.” This word is the primary equivalent of “under” and is…

  • |

    comme

    ByFast French

    The French word “comme” can function either as an adverb or as a conjunction. Adverb As an adverb, “comme” means “how.” Another word that is used similarly is “que.” Conjunction Comme as a conjunction can mean “as” or “like.” Idiomatic expressions Etymology: The word “comme” comes from the Latin word “quam.” In Old French, it…

  • vouloir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “vouloir” is a very important and frequently used verb. It means “to want.” It is often used with other verbs, eg “to want to do.” As such, it is described as an auxiliary verb, or helper verb, because it is useful when combined with other French verbs. Below are the conjugations for…

  • roman

    ByFast French

    What does the French word “roman” mean? Is it someone from Ancient Rome? Is it someone who lives in modern Rome? It’s neither – “roman” is the masculine noun meaning “novel” or “fiction” or “books.” “Le roman” also means “The Romanesque” period of architecture, from the 11th and 12th centuries AD. It can also refer…

  • soit…soit

    ByFast French

    In the French language, there’s a handy construction called “soit…soit.” This structure is used to present alternatives or choices. It’s a bit like saying “either…or” in English. Let’s delve into how it works and how you can use it effectively. The word “soit” means “either” or “whether” in English. When repeated, it emphasizes the choice…