Is « main » masculine or feminine?

« main » is feminine. You say la main.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

main ends in -in. Nouns ending in -in are usually masculine, so main is one of the exceptions: it is feminine. The full rules by ending cover every common suffix.

Related words

Other common nouns that end the same way:

Common questions

Is « main » masculine or feminine?

« main » is feminine. You say la main.

Is it « le main » or « la main »?

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


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