Is « rival » masculine or feminine?

« rival » is masculine. You say le rival.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« rival » is masculine. You say le rival.

Is it « la rival » or « le rival »?

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


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