Is « mal » masculine or feminine?

« mal » is masculine. You say le mal.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« mal » is masculine. You say le mal.

Is it « la mal » or « le mal »?

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


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