When to use -eur / -trice / -euse

In French, many professions or agent nouns (people who do an action) end in -eur for masculine and -trice for feminine. However, the rules for forming the feminine version vary depending on the word’s origin and structure.

1. -eur → -euse or -trice?

Not all words ending in -eur follow the same rule. Here's how to decide:

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Rule 1: If the -eur word comes from a verb ending in -er (Latin origin), the feminine usually ends in -euse

Examples:

• Chanteur → Chanteuse (from chanter)
• Vendeur → Vendeuse (from vendre)
• Travailleur → Travailleuse (from travailler)

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Rule 2: If the -eur word comes from a verb in -ir, -re, or -oir (often abstract or Latin nouns), the feminine often ends in -trice

Examples:

• Traducteur → Traductrice (from traduire)
• Acteur → Actrice (from agir originally)
• Concepteur → Conceptrice (from concevoir)
• Directeur → Directrice (from diriger)

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Rule 3: Some words are irregular or have fixed forms

Some words don’t follow a clear pattern and just need to be memorized.

Examples:

• Docteur → can be Docteure or Doctoresse (depending on style/region)
• Professeur → usually remains Professeur (neutral or masculine form used for women too)

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Tip: When in doubt, check a dictionary or trusted resource — many modern professions also now prefer gender-neutral forms in official or inclusive writing.

Would you like a list of common -eur words with both masculine and feminine forms?