Why do we say 'Un seul M' and not 'Une seule M' even though M is a “consonne”
when spelling names, for example 'Bram'.
to precise that there's only one M at the end I hear french people 'Avec un seul M a la fin'.
but 'M est une consonne' therefore 'un nom feminin'.
so why is that ?
grammaire
New contributor
add a comment |
when spelling names, for example 'Bram'.
to precise that there's only one M at the end I hear french people 'Avec un seul M a la fin'.
but 'M est une consonne' therefore 'un nom feminin'.
so why is that ?
grammaire
New contributor
2
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago
add a comment |
when spelling names, for example 'Bram'.
to precise that there's only one M at the end I hear french people 'Avec un seul M a la fin'.
but 'M est une consonne' therefore 'un nom feminin'.
so why is that ?
grammaire
New contributor
when spelling names, for example 'Bram'.
to precise that there's only one M at the end I hear french people 'Avec un seul M a la fin'.
but 'M est une consonne' therefore 'un nom feminin'.
so why is that ?
grammaire
grammaire
New contributor
New contributor
edited 12 mins ago
qoba
5,168516
5,168516
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asked 3 hours ago
rapidracimrapidracim
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1062
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2
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago
add a comment |
2
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago
2
2
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The gender of letters is masculine nowadays but that wasn't always the case for some consonants, including m.
Rem. Les noms désignant les lettres f, h, l, m, n, r, s sont traditionnellement féminins (il s'agit des noms en -e : effe, ache, elle, emme, enne, erre, esse, d'apr. la transcr. orth. ds Lar. 20e). On commence par attribuer le genre masc. à la désignation de la lettre par la valeur : un fe, effe restant lui fém. (Ac. jusque Ac. 1878, Littré, DG). Ac. 1932 admet pour effe les 2 genres; v. aussi Rob. La 1re attribution du genre masc. à effe ds Nouv. Lar. ill. 1897.
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The gender of letters is masculine nowadays but that wasn't always the case for some consonants, including m.
Rem. Les noms désignant les lettres f, h, l, m, n, r, s sont traditionnellement féminins (il s'agit des noms en -e : effe, ache, elle, emme, enne, erre, esse, d'apr. la transcr. orth. ds Lar. 20e). On commence par attribuer le genre masc. à la désignation de la lettre par la valeur : un fe, effe restant lui fém. (Ac. jusque Ac. 1878, Littré, DG). Ac. 1932 admet pour effe les 2 genres; v. aussi Rob. La 1re attribution du genre masc. à effe ds Nouv. Lar. ill. 1897.
add a comment |
The gender of letters is masculine nowadays but that wasn't always the case for some consonants, including m.
Rem. Les noms désignant les lettres f, h, l, m, n, r, s sont traditionnellement féminins (il s'agit des noms en -e : effe, ache, elle, emme, enne, erre, esse, d'apr. la transcr. orth. ds Lar. 20e). On commence par attribuer le genre masc. à la désignation de la lettre par la valeur : un fe, effe restant lui fém. (Ac. jusque Ac. 1878, Littré, DG). Ac. 1932 admet pour effe les 2 genres; v. aussi Rob. La 1re attribution du genre masc. à effe ds Nouv. Lar. ill. 1897.
add a comment |
The gender of letters is masculine nowadays but that wasn't always the case for some consonants, including m.
Rem. Les noms désignant les lettres f, h, l, m, n, r, s sont traditionnellement féminins (il s'agit des noms en -e : effe, ache, elle, emme, enne, erre, esse, d'apr. la transcr. orth. ds Lar. 20e). On commence par attribuer le genre masc. à la désignation de la lettre par la valeur : un fe, effe restant lui fém. (Ac. jusque Ac. 1878, Littré, DG). Ac. 1932 admet pour effe les 2 genres; v. aussi Rob. La 1re attribution du genre masc. à effe ds Nouv. Lar. ill. 1897.
The gender of letters is masculine nowadays but that wasn't always the case for some consonants, including m.
Rem. Les noms désignant les lettres f, h, l, m, n, r, s sont traditionnellement féminins (il s'agit des noms en -e : effe, ache, elle, emme, enne, erre, esse, d'apr. la transcr. orth. ds Lar. 20e). On commence par attribuer le genre masc. à la désignation de la lettre par la valeur : un fe, effe restant lui fém. (Ac. jusque Ac. 1878, Littré, DG). Ac. 1932 admet pour effe les 2 genres; v. aussi Rob. La 1re attribution du genre masc. à effe ds Nouv. Lar. ill. 1897.
answered 2 hours ago
jlliagrejlliagre
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rapidracim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
M is une consonne.
– jlliagre
3 hours ago
La question est excellente.
– Survenant9r7
11 mins ago