Is « cheval » masculine or feminine?

« cheval » is masculine. You say le cheval.

Article forms

With the definite article le cheval
With the indefinite article un cheval
With the partitive article du cheval

Plural

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

Why the gender

cheval ends in -al. Nouns ending in -al are usually masculine, so cheval follows the pattern. The full rules by ending cover every common suffix.

Related words

Other common nouns that end the same way:

Common questions

Is « cheval » masculine or feminine?

« cheval » is masculine. You say le cheval.

Is it « la cheval » or « le cheval »?

It is « le cheval ». « la cheval » is incorrect.


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