1. Grammar
  2. French
  3. Article
  4. Article défini (Definite Article)
Article défini (Definite Article)
Forms of the Definite Article
Singular Plural
Masculine le les
Feminine la
The singular definite article le, la and the plural definite article les in French correspond to the English definite article the.
If the noun begins with a vowel or a silent h, the singular definite article le or la in French is elided, taking the form l’.
Use of the Definite Article in French

  1. The definite article is placed before a noun denoting an object which is unique:

    La lune brille dans le ciel. – The moon shines in the sky.

  2. The definite article is placed before a noun representing a whole class to which it belongs:

    La tulipe est une fleur. – The tulip is a flower.

  3. The definite article is placed before a noun in its most generalized meaning (no article is used in English in this case):

    J’aime les bananes. – I like bananas.

  4. The definite article is placed before a noun which is known to the interlocutor, as it is unique in these particular circumstances:

    Fermez la porte s’il vous plaît. – Please close the door.

  5. The definite article is place before a noun followed by an adverbial, a subordinate clause, etc. which identifies the object unequivocally:

    Prends la chaise qui est devant toi. – Take the chair in front of you.

  6. The definite article is placed before a noun for denoting an object which has already been referred to previously, and thus is known to the interlocutor:

    Un garçon aparut devant nous. Toup d’un coûp le garçon cria. – A boy appeared in front of us. Suddenly the boy shouted.

  7. The definite article is used in place of a demonstrative or possessive adjective:

    Vous êtes la personne que je cherchais. – You are the person I’ve been searching for.
    J’ai mal à la tête. – My head aches.

  8. The definite article conveys a distributive meaning, which can be translated into English using the adverb apiece:

    Les citrons coûtent 50 centimes la pièce. – Lemons cost 50 cents apiece.

  9. The definite article is used in expressions of time for specifying a date or period:

    le huit janvier – the eighth of January
    l’année passée – last year

  10. The definite article is used for emphasizing an emotion of delight:

    Oh ! Le beau chiot ! – Oh, what a beautiful puppy!

  11. The definite article is used with a tinge of irony or for eloquence:

    C’est la belle vie ! – That’s your beautiful life!

  12. The definite article is used for substantivising other parts of speech:

    le bien et le mal – the good and the evil

  13. The definite article is used for replacing a noun next to an adjective:

    les grandes et les petites entreprises – large and small companies
Notes

  1. Wherever a possessive adjective is placed before a noun, the definite article is omitted:

    ma table, son chat
    la ma table, le son chat

  2. The definite article is omitted before a noun denoting a profession in nominal predicates:

    Ma sœur est étudiante.
    Ma sœur est l'étudiante.
    However, either the indefinite or the definite article is placed before such a noun, if it is determined by an adjective or a subordinate clause: Ma sœur est une bonne étudiante. Ma sœur est l'étudiante qui a gagné le concours des jeunes écrivains 2017.

  3. The definite article is omitted before a noun denoting a nationality in nominal predicates:

    Je suis Ukrainien.
    Je suis l'Ukrainien.
    However, either the indefinite or the definite article is placed before such a noun, if it is determined by an adjective or a subordinate clause: Je suis un Ukrainien qui aime apprendre les langues. Je suis l'Ukrainien qui a gagné le concours des jeunes écrivains 2017.

  4. No article is used before city names:

    Kyïv est la capitale de l’Ukraine
    le Kyïv est la capitale de l’Ukraine
    However, the article is always used in the names of several cities: la Haye, la Havane, le Havre, le Caire, la Mecque, le Mans, etc.
    The article is also used when the meaning is limited: le Paris de nos jours, le Marseille de nos rêves.

  5. The definite article is used in the names of countries, rivers and mountains:

    La France est un pays européen. La Loire est un fleuve. Le Mont Blanc est un sommet.
    France est un pays européen. Loire est un fleuve. Mont Blanc est un sommet.
    However, the article is omitted in the expressions where a country’s name is preceded by the preposition en: J’habite en France.

  6. The article is omitted after quantitative adverbs with the preposition de (beaucoup de, peu de, trop de, assez de, combien de):

    Marie a beaucoup d’amies. J’ai trop d’ennuis.
    Marie a beaucoup de les amies. J’ai trop des ennuis.

  7. The article is omitted after a noun denoting a particular quantity. The preposition de is used instead:

    Un groupe de gens. Un kilo de pommes.
    Un groupe de les gens. Un kilo des pommes.

  8. The article is omitted before the names of months:

    Janvier est un mois d’hiver.
    Le janvier est un mois d’hiver.
    However, the article is preserved in dates: le dix janvier, le dix-huit avril.

  9. The definite article is used before the names of days for emphasizing the regularity of an activity:

    Je joue au foot le lundi. – I play football every Monday.
    Je viendrai chez toi le lundi. – I will come to you this Monday. (correct: je viendrai chez toi lundi)

  10. The article is not used before the names of persons or surnames of women:

    Je vois Marie. Je parle à Coppel.
    Je vois la Marie. Je parle à la Coppel.
    However, this usage of the definite article is inherent of regional or rural speech: la Jeanne joue dehors.
    The definite article can be an integral part of surnames: Robert le Merle.
    The indefinite article can be a part of nicknames: Alexandre le Grand.
    The definite article is used before the names of dynasties or families in plural: les Habsbourg.
    The definite article is used before surnames in the meaning of ‘such as’: les Hinault et les Virenque sont l’orgueil du cyclisme français – people such as Hinault and Virenque are the pride of French cyclism.

  11. The article is omitted before trademarks and brand names:

    Peugeot, Bosch
    le Peugeot, le Bosch
    However, the article is used when the proper name becomes a common name: le Peugeot de ma mère – my mother’s Peugeot [car].