French Nouns Starting With C

430 of the most common French nouns start with C: 215 masculine, 179 feminine, and 36 that take either gender. 5 break the usual rule for their ending, so those are the ones to memorize.

Noun	Gender	Meaning	Ending rule
la cabane	feminine		No rule
la cabine	feminine		No rule
le cabinet	masculine		No rule
le câble	masculine		No rule
la cacahuète	feminine		No rule
le cachet	masculine		No rule
la cachette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
le cadavre	masculine		No rule
le cadeau	masculine	gift, present	Follows `-eau`
le cadre / la cadre	both		No rule
le cafard	masculine		No rule
le café	masculine	coffee; café	No rule
la cafétéria	feminine		No rule
la cage	feminine		Exception `-age` is usually masculine
le cahier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le caillou	masculine		Follows `-ou`
la caisse	feminine		No rule
le calcul	masculine		No rule
le caleçon	masculine		No rule
le calendrier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le calibre	masculine		No rule
le câlin	masculine		Follows `-in`
le calme	masculine		No rule
le camarade / la camarade	both		No rule
le cambriolage	masculine		Follows `-age`
la came	feminine		No rule
la caméra	feminine	camera (film or video)	No rule
le camion	masculine		No rule
la camionnette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
le camp	masculine	camp; side (in a conflict or game)	No rule
la campagne	feminine		No rule
le camping	masculine		Follows `-ing`
le canal	masculine		Follows `-al`
le canapé	masculine		No rule
le canard	masculine		No rule
le cancer	masculine		No rule
le candidat	masculine		No rule
la candidature	feminine		Follows `-ure`
la canne	feminine		No rule
le canon	masculine		No rule
le canot	masculine		No rule
le cap	masculine		No rule
la capacité	feminine		Follows `-té`
la cape	feminine		No rule
le capitaine / la capitaine	both	captain	No rule
le capital	masculine		Follows `-al`
la capitale	feminine		No rule
le caporal	masculine		Follows `-al`
le capote / la capote	both		No rule
la capsule	feminine		No rule
le car	masculine		No rule
le caractère	masculine		No rule
la caravane	feminine		No rule
le carbone	masculine		No rule
le carburant	masculine		No rule
la cargaison	feminine		Follows `-aison`
le cargo	masculine		Follows `-o`
le carnet	masculine		No rule
la carotte	feminine		No rule
le carré	masculine		No rule
le carreau	masculine		Follows `-eau`
la carrière	feminine		No rule
la carte	feminine	card; map; menu	No rule
le cartel	masculine		No rule
le carton	masculine		No rule
le cartouche / la cartouche	both		No rule
la cascade	feminine		Follows `-ade`
la caserne	feminine		No rule
le casier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le casino	masculine		Follows `-o`
le casque	masculine		No rule
la casquette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
le casse / la casse	both		No rule
la cassette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
la catastrophe	feminine		No rule
la catégorie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le cauchemar	masculine		No rule
la cause	feminine	cause	No rule
la caution	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la cavalerie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le cavalier / la cavalier	both		No rule
le cave / la cave	both		No rule
la caverne	feminine		No rule
la ceinture	feminine		Follows `-ure`
la célébrité	feminine		Follows `-té`
le célibataire / la célibataire	both		No rule
la cellule	feminine		No rule
la cendre	feminine		No rule
le cent	masculine		No rule
la centaine	feminine		No rule
le centime	masculine		No rule
le centimètre	masculine		No rule
le central	masculine		Follows `-al`
la centrale	feminine		No rule
le centre	masculine		No rule
le cercle	masculine		No rule
le cercueil	masculine		Follows `-eil`
la céréale	feminine		No rule
la cérémonie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le cerf	masculine		No rule
la cerise	feminine		No rule
le certificat	masculine		No rule
la certitude	feminine		Follows `-ude`
le cerveau	masculine	brain; mastermind	Follows `-eau`
le chagrin	masculine		Follows `-in`
la chaîne	feminine		No rule
la chair	feminine		No rule
la chaise	feminine		No rule
le chalet	masculine		No rule
la chaleur	feminine		No rule
la chambre	feminine	bedroom; chamber	No rule
le chameau	masculine		Follows `-eau`
le champ	masculine		No rule
le champagne / la champagne	both		No rule
le champignon	masculine		No rule
le champion	masculine		No rule
le championnat	masculine		No rule
la chance	feminine	luck; chance	Follows `-ance`
le change	masculine		No rule
le changement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
la chanson	feminine	song	No rule
le chant	masculine		No rule
le chantage	masculine		Follows `-age`
le chanteur	masculine		Follows `-teur`
le chantier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le chapeau / la chapeau	both		No rule
la chapelle	feminine		Follows `-elle`
le chapitre	masculine		No rule
le char	masculine		No rule
le charbon	masculine		No rule
la charge	feminine		No rule
le chargement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
le chariot	masculine		No rule
la charité	feminine		Follows `-té`
le charme	masculine		No rule
la chasse	feminine		No rule
le chasseur	masculine		No rule
le chat	masculine	cat; (online) chat	No rule
le château	masculine		Follows `-eau`
le châtiment	masculine		Follows `-ment`
le chaton	masculine		No rule
le chaud	masculine		No rule
le chauffage	masculine		Follows `-age`
le chauffeur / la chauffeur	both		No rule
la chaussette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
la chaussure	feminine		Follows `-ure`
la chauve-souris	feminine		No rule
le chef / la chef	both	boss, head, chief; chef	No rule
le chemin	masculine	path, way	Follows `-in`
la cheminée	feminine		Follows `-ée`
la chemise	feminine		No rule
le chèque	masculine		No rule
le chéri	masculine	darling, sweetheart	No rule
le cheval	masculine	horse	Follows `-al`
le chevalier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le cheveu	masculine	hair (a single strand; plural for hair in general)	Follows `-eu`
la cheville	feminine		Follows `-ille`
le chèvre / la chèvre	both		No rule
le chien	masculine	dog	No rule
le chiffre	masculine		No rule
la chimie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le chiot	masculine		No rule
la chiotte	feminine		No rule
la chirurgie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le chirurgien	masculine		No rule
le choc	masculine		No rule
le chocolat	masculine		No rule
le choeur	masculine		No rule
le chômage	masculine		Follows `-age`
la chorale	feminine		No rule
la chose	feminine	thing	No rule
le chou	masculine		Follows `-ou`
le chrétien	masculine		No rule
la chute	feminine		No rule
la cible	feminine		No rule
la cicatrice	feminine		No rule
le ciel	masculine	sky; heaven	No rule
le cigare	masculine		No rule
la cigarette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
le cimetière	masculine		No rule
le ciné	masculine		No rule
le cinéma	masculine		No rule
le cinglé	masculine		No rule
la circonstance	feminine		Follows `-ance`
le circuit	masculine		No rule
la circulation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le cirque	masculine		No rule
le ciseau	masculine		Follows `-eau`
la citation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la cité	feminine		Follows `-té`
le citoyen	masculine		No rule
le citron	masculine		No rule
le civil	masculine		No rule
la civilisation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le clair	masculine		No rule
la claire	feminine		No rule
le clan	masculine		No rule
le claque / la claque	both		No rule
la classe	feminine	class; classroom	No rule
le classique / la classique	both		No rule
la clé	feminine	key; wrench	No rule
la clef	feminine		No rule
le cliché	masculine		No rule
le client	masculine	customer, client	No rule
le climat	masculine		No rule
la clinique	feminine		No rule
la cloche	feminine		No rule
le clone	masculine		No rule
le clope / la clope	both		No rule
la clôture	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le clou	masculine		Follows `-ou`
le clown / la clown	both		No rule
le club / la club	both	club	No rule
le coach	masculine		No rule
le coca / la coca	both		No rule
la cocaïne	feminine		No rule
le cochon	masculine		No rule
le cocktail	masculine		Follows `-ail`
le coco / la coco	both		No rule
la cocotte	feminine		No rule
le code	masculine		No rule
le coéquipier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
le coeur	masculine	heart	No rule
le coffre	masculine		No rule
le cognac	masculine		No rule
le coiffeur	masculine		No rule
la coiffure	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le coin	masculine	corner; area, spot	Follows `-in`
la coïncidence	feminine		Follows `-ence`
le coke / la coke	both		No rule
le col	masculine		No rule
la colère	feminine	anger	No rule
la colle	feminine		No rule
la collecte	feminine		No rule
la collection	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le collège	masculine		Follows `-ège`
le collègue / la collègue	both		No rule
le collier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
la colline	feminine		No rule
le colocataire / la colocataire	both		No rule
la colombe	feminine		No rule
le colonel	masculine		No rule
la colonie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
la colonne	feminine		No rule
le coma	masculine		No rule
le combat	masculine	fight, combat	No rule
le combattant	masculine		No rule
la combinaison	feminine		Follows `-aison`
la comédie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le comité	masculine		Exception `-té` is usually feminine
le commandant	masculine		No rule
la commande	feminine		No rule
le commandement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
le commencement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
le commentaire	masculine		No rule
le commerce	masculine		No rule
le commissaire / la commissaire	both		No rule
le commissariat	masculine		No rule
la commission	feminine		Follows `-sion`
le commun	masculine		No rule
la communauté	feminine		Follows `-té`
la communication	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le communiste / la communiste	both		No rule
la compagne	feminine		No rule
la compagnie	feminine	company	Follows `-ie`
le compagnon	masculine		No rule
la comparaison	feminine		Follows `-aison`
la compassion	feminine		Follows `-sion`
la compétence	feminine		Follows `-ence`
la compétition	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le complet	masculine		No rule
le complexe	masculine		No rule
la complication	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le complice / la complice	both		No rule
le compliment	masculine		Follows `-ment`
le complot	masculine		No rule
le comportement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
la compréhension	feminine		Follows `-sion`
le comptable / la comptable	both		No rule
le compte	masculine	account; count, tally	No rule
le comptoir	masculine		Follows `-oir`
le comte	masculine		No rule
le comté	masculine		Exception `-té` is usually feminine
le con	masculine	idiot, jerk (vulgar); also a common swear word	No rule
la concentration	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le concept	masculine		No rule
la conception	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le concert	masculine		No rule
la concession	feminine		Follows `-sion`
le concierge / la concierge	both		No rule
la conclusion	feminine		Follows `-sion`
la concurrence	feminine		Follows `-ence`
le concurrent	masculine		No rule
la condamnation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la condition	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le conducteur	masculine		Follows `-teur`
le conduit	masculine		No rule
la conduite	feminine		No rule
la conférence	feminine		Follows `-ence`
la confession	feminine		Follows `-sion`
la confiance	feminine	trust, confidence	Follows `-ance`
la confirmation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la confiture	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le conflit	masculine		No rule
le confort	masculine		No rule
la confusion	feminine		Follows `-sion`
le congé	masculine		No rule
la connaissance	feminine		Follows `-ance`
le connard	masculine		No rule
la connerie	feminine	bullshit, nonsense; a stupid thing to do (vulgar)	Follows `-ie`
la connexion	feminine		Follows `-xion`
la conscience	feminine		Follows `-ence`
le conseil / la conseil	both	piece of advice; council, board	No rule
le conseiller	masculine		No rule
le consentement	masculine		Follows `-ment`
la conséquence	feminine		Follows `-ence`
la considération	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la conspiration	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la constitution	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la construction	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la consultation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le contact	masculine	contact; ignition (in a car)	No rule
le conte	masculine		No rule
le contenu	masculine		No rule
le contexte	masculine		No rule
le continent	masculine		No rule
le contraire	masculine		No rule
le contrat	masculine		No rule
le contre	masculine		No rule
la contrebande	feminine		No rule
la contribution	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le contrôle	masculine	control; check, inspection; (school) test	No rule
la convention	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la conversation	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la conviction	feminine		Follows `-tion`
le convoi	masculine		No rule
la coopération	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la coordonnée	feminine		Follows `-ée`
le copain	masculine	friend, buddy; boyfriend	Follows `-in`
la copie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
la copine	feminine	friend; girlfriend	No rule
le coq	masculine		No rule
le coque / la coque	both		No rule
la coquille	feminine		Follows `-ille`
le corbeau	masculine		Follows `-eau`
la corde	feminine		No rule
le cordon	masculine		No rule
la corne	feminine		No rule
la correction	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la correspondance	feminine		Follows `-ance`
la corruption	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la corvée	feminine		Follows `-ée`
le costume	masculine		No rule
la cote	feminine		No rule
la côte	feminine		No rule
le côté	masculine	side	Exception `-té` is usually feminine
le coton	masculine		No rule
le cou	masculine		Follows `-ou`
la couche	feminine		No rule
le coucher	masculine		No rule
le coucou	masculine		Follows `-ou`
le coude	masculine		Exception `-ude` is usually feminine
la couille	feminine		Follows `-ille`
la couleur	feminine		No rule
la coulisse	feminine		No rule
le couloir	masculine		Follows `-oir`
le coup	masculine	blow, hit; a go, an attempt	No rule
le coupable / la coupable	both		No rule
la coupe	feminine		No rule
le couple / la couple	both		No rule
la coupure	feminine		Follows `-ure`
la cour	feminine	courtyard; court (royal or of law)	No rule
le courage	masculine		Follows `-age`
le courant	masculine	current (electrical or water); (au courant) up to date	No rule
le coureur	masculine		No rule
la couronne	feminine		No rule
le courrier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
la course	feminine	race; errand; (plural) grocery shopping	No rule
le court	masculine		No rule
la courtoisie	feminine		Follows `-ie`
le cousin	masculine		Follows `-in`
le coussin	masculine		Follows `-in`
le coût	masculine		No rule
le couteau	masculine		Follows `-eau`
la coutume	feminine		No rule
le couvent	masculine		No rule
le couvert	masculine		No rule
la couverture	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le crabe	masculine		No rule
la crainte	feminine		No rule
le crâne	masculine		No rule
le crash	masculine		No rule
la cravate	feminine		No rule
le crayon	masculine		No rule
le créateur	masculine		Follows `-teur`
la création	feminine		Follows `-tion`
la créature	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le crédit	masculine		No rule
le crème / la crème	both		No rule
le crêpe / la crêpe	both		No rule
le crétin	masculine		Follows `-in`
la crève	feminine		No rule
la crevette	feminine		Follows `-ette`
le cri	masculine		No rule
le crime	masculine	crime	No rule
le criminel	masculine		No rule
la crise	feminine		No rule
le cristal	masculine		Follows `-al`
le critique / la critique	both		No rule
le crochet	masculine		No rule
la croisière	feminine		No rule
la croissance	feminine		Follows `-ance`
la crotte	feminine		No rule
la croyance	feminine		Follows `-ance`
la cuiller	feminine		No rule
le cuir	masculine		No rule
la cuisine	feminine	kitchen; cooking, cuisine	No rule
le cuisinier	masculine		Follows `-ier`
la cuisse	feminine		No rule
le cuivre	masculine		No rule
le cul	masculine	ass, butt (vulgar)	No rule
le culot	masculine		No rule
la culotte	feminine		No rule
la culpabilité	feminine		Follows `-té`
le culte	masculine		No rule
la culture	feminine		Follows `-ure`
la cure	feminine		Follows `-ure`
le curé	masculine		No rule
la curiosité	feminine		Follows `-té`
le cycle	masculine		No rule

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The ending rules come from the gender rules by ending. Looking for a noun that is not listed? Look it up on the home page, or go back to the full A-to-Z index.