Is « cou » masculine or feminine?

« cou » is masculine. You say le cou.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« cou » is masculine. You say le cou.

Is it « la cou » or « le cou »?

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


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