le
/lə/
the (masculine singular definite article)
Le chat est sur la table.
The cat is on the table.
formal
A definite article used before masculine singular nouns.
J'ai vu le film hier.
I saw the movie yesterday.
Used before masculine singular nouns starting with consonants (except vowels and silent 'h').
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender Agreement
'Le' is masculine. Use 'la' for feminine and 'les' for plural.
Gold Rule
Definite Article
'Le' is used to specify a particular noun, similar to 'the' in English.
Word Origin
From Old French 'li' or 'lu', from Latin 'ille' (that).
Usage Notes
In French, 'le' is used before masculine singular nouns. It contracts to 'l'" before vowels and silent 'h' (e.g., 'l'homme').
Word Breakdown
le
the
articleDictionnaire Français-Anglais