Is « tristesse » masculine or feminine?

« tristesse » is feminine. You say la tristesse.

Article forms

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

Plural

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

Why the gender

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

« tristesse » is feminine. You say la tristesse.

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

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


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