French grammar: articles définis

What this grammar point covers

Definite articles in French are small words used before nouns to talk about a specific person, thing, or group that is known to both the speaker and listener.

When to use it

Use definite articles in French when you are talking about something specific or already known, like a particular object, person, or group. Also, use them when talking about things in general, such as likes or dislikes, or when referring to categories (for example, animals, languages, days of the week).

Key forms

• le (masculine singular): le livre
• la (feminine singular): la table
• l' (before a vowel or silent h): l'école, l'homme
• les (plural for both genders): les enfants

Examples

Tips

• Always match the article to the gender and number of the noun.
• Use 'l'' only when the noun starts with a vowel or a silent 'h'.
• Do not use a definite article before names of people.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some country names in French use a definite article (e.g., la France, le Canada).
• With days of the week, the article means 'every' (e.g., Le lundi, je travaille = Every Monday, I work).