Is « motivation » masculine or feminine?

« motivation » is feminine. You say la motivation.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« motivation » is feminine. You say la motivation.

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

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


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