Is « dauphin » masculine or feminine?

« dauphin » is masculine. You say le dauphin.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« dauphin » is masculine. You say le dauphin.

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

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


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