Is « ancêtre » masculine or feminine?

« ancêtre » works as both masculine and feminine. You will see un ancêtre and une ancêtre, with the article carrying the meaning or agreeing with the person described.

Article forms

With the definite article l'ancêtre
With the indefinite article un ancêtre / une ancêtre
With the partitive article de l'ancêtre

Plural

The plural is ancêtres (les ancêtres). A noun keeps its gender in the plural; only the article stops showing it.

Common questions

Is « ancêtre » masculine or feminine?

« ancêtre » works as both. You will see un ancêtre and une ancêtre, with the article carrying the meaning or agreeing with the person being described.

Is it « un ancêtre » or « une ancêtre »?

Both are correct. Use the masculine or the feminine depending on the sense or the person.


Check another word, or read the complete guide to French noun gender.