Is « clou » masculine or feminine?

« clou » is masculine. You say le clou.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« clou » is masculine. You say le clou.

Is it « la clou » or « le clou »?

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


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