feminine

Everyday

1. Feminine means typical of or thought to be suitable for women or girls. tree →
2. (grammar) In many languages, feminine is a group (gender) of nouns and words, like «la» words in French. tree →
3. In English, some feminine word forms show a female: actress, lioness, waitress. tree →

In the lessons

In language lessons pupils learn feminine and masculine nouns in French, Spanish or German, and English pairs like prince/princess. In everyday life «feminine» describes styles and things linked to women; ideas about what is feminine change between places and times. Phrases: feminine form, feminine noun, feminine ending.

Examples

• «Lioness» is the feminine form of «lion». tree →
• In French, «table» is a feminine noun. tree →
• She likes a feminine style with flowers and lace. tree →
• «Duchess» is the feminine of «duke». tree →
• The poem has soft, feminine rhymes. tree →
• Boys and girls can like any colour — colours are not really feminine or masculine. tree →
• In Spanish, many feminine nouns end in «-a». tree →
• [239] Kruchina, as an abstract idea, is of the feminine gender. tree →

Note

Opposite: masculine. Also «neuter» (neither) in grammar. Noun: femininity. Say: FEM-in-in. Myth: interests and colours are not fixed by being a girl or a boy.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Hebrew nouns are masculine or feminine. Sefer Yetzirah divides the letters by gender, and tradition sees the feminine as part of how God's creation is structured. In the primary lessons: In language lessons pupils learn feminine and masculine nouns in French, Spanish or German, and English pairs like prince/princess. In everyday life «feminine» describes styles and things linked to women; ideas about what is feminine change between places and times. Phrases: feminine form, feminine noun, feminine ending.

Note

Opposite: masculine. Also «neuter» (neither) in grammar. Noun: femininity. Say: FEM-in-in. Myth: interests and colours are not fixed by being a girl or a boy.