Is « principal » masculine or feminine?
« principal » is masculine. You say le principal.
Article forms
| With the definite article | le principal |
| With the indefinite article | un principal |
| With the partitive article | du principal |
Plural
The plural is principaux (les principaux). A noun keeps its gender in the plural; only the article stops showing it.
Why the gender
principal ends in
-al. Nouns ending in
-al are usually masculine,
so principal 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 « principal » masculine or feminine?
« principal » is masculine. You say le principal.
Is it « la principal » or « le principal »?
It is « le principal ». « la principal » is incorrect.
Check another word, or read the complete guide to French noun gender.