Is « obstacle » masculine or feminine?

« obstacle » is masculine. You say l'obstacle.

Article forms

With the definite article l'obstacle
With the indefinite article un obstacle
With the partitive article de l'obstacle

Plural

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

Common questions

Is « obstacle » masculine or feminine?

« obstacle » is masculine. You say l'obstacle.

« l'obstacle » hides the gender. Is « obstacle » masculine or feminine?

It is masculine. The article shortens to « l'obstacle » for both genders, but you say un obstacle, not une obstacle, and adjectives take the masculine form.


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