Is « circonstance » masculine or feminine?

« circonstance » is feminine. You say la circonstance.

Article forms

With the definite article la circonstance
With the indefinite article une circonstance
With the partitive article de la circonstance

Plural

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

Why the gender

circonstance ends in -ance. Nouns ending in -ance are usually feminine, so circonstance 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 « circonstance » masculine or feminine?

« circonstance » is feminine. You say la circonstance.

Is it « le circonstance » or « la circonstance »?

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


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