Is « imbécile » masculine or feminine?

« imbécile » works as both masculine and feminine. You will see un imbécile and une imbécile, with the article carrying the meaning or agreeing with the person described.

Article forms

With the definite article l'imbécile
With the indefinite article un imbécile / une imbécile
With the partitive article de l'imbécile

Plural

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

Common questions

Is « imbécile » masculine or feminine?

« imbécile » works as both. You will see un imbécile and une imbécile, with the article carrying the meaning or agreeing with the person being described.

Is it « un imbécile » or « une imbécile »?

Both are correct. Use the masculine or the feminine depending on the sense or the person.


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