How to Say “A” in French: Simple Guide for Beginners
When you’re learning French, even the smallest words can be tricky — and essential. One of the first words you’ll encounter is “a”, as in “a book” or “a cat.” But how do you say “a” in French?
Let’s explore everything you need to know!
🟨 The French word for “a” is un or une
In French, nouns are gendered — they are either masculine or feminine. That’s why there are two different words for “a”:
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un (masculine)
🗣️ [uh(n)] -
une (feminine)
🗣️ [ewn]
You must match the article to the gender of the noun.
✅ Examples:
| English | French | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| a book | un livre | masculine |
| a cat (male) | un chat | masculine |
| a house | une maison | feminine |
| a car | une voiture | feminine |
| a student (girl) | une étudiante | feminine |
| a student (boy) | un étudiant | masculine |
🧠 How to know if a noun is masculine or feminine?
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect rule — you’ll need to learn the gender along with each noun. A good habit: always memorize new words with their article (e.g., “un stylo” not just “stylo”).
🔁 Don’t confuse with “a” as a verb
There’s another “a” in French — it comes from the verb avoir (to have). For example:
-
Il a un chien. – He has a dog.
In this case, “a” is the third-person singular of the verb “avoir,” and it means “has,” not the article “a.”
🎯 In Summary:
-
“A” (indefinite article) = un or une, depending on gender
-
Match it to the noun: un stylo, une chaise
-
There’s also “a” as a verb (il a), but that’s another story!
Now that you know how to say “a” in French, you’re one step closer to building real sentences and speaking with confidence.
👉 Want to learn how to say “the” in French next? Let me know in the comments!
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