Ways of Forming the Feminine of Nouns

We will learn here the different ways of forming the feminine of nouns. There are numerous ways of changing gender. Remember that gender change is possible only between two forms. These are masculine and feminine. 


The rules are-

We can change gender by using an entirely different word; as, boy - girl

By adding syllables; as, God-goddess (here ‘ess’ is a syllable).

By joining a word after or before; as, grandfather - grandmother

Sometimes it is to be seen that feminine words are made through joining ‘a’, ‘ine’, ‘ix’; as, Hero-heroine.

There are three ways of forming the Feminine of Nouns:

A. By a change of words

Masculine

Father

Brother

Man

Boy

Bachelor 

Nephew

Husband

Male

Lord

King

Boar

Buck

Bullock

Monk (or friar)

Cock

Son

Sir

Dog

Ox (or bull)

Fox

Drake

Stag

Wizard

Horse

Gander

Papa

Uncle

Gentleman

Colt

Drone

Earl

Hart

Ram

Swain

Feminine

mother

sister

Woman

Girl

maid (or spinster)

niece

wife

female

lady

queen

sow

doe

heifer

nun

hen

daughter

madam

bitch

cow

vixen

duck

hind

witch

mare

goose

Mamma

aunt

lady

filly

bee

countess

roe

ewe

nymph


B. By adding ‘ess’ to the Masculine

(i) The following Feminines are formed by simply adding –ess to the Masculine

Masculine

Poet

Heir

Jew

Prince

Shepherd

Priest

Giant

Steward

Patron

Prophet

count

Mayor

Masculine - feminine

poetess

heiress

jewess

princess

shepherdess

priestess

giantess

stewardess

patroness

prophetess

countess

mayoress


(ii) The following Feminines are formed by adding –ess to the Masculine, after omitting the vowel of the last syllable to the Masculine:

Masculine

Tiger

Actor

Hunter

Inspector

Emperor

Governor

Founder

Prince

Waiter

Benefactor

Instructor

Enchanter

Feminine

tigress

actress

huntress

inspectress

empress

governess

foundress

princess

waitress

benefactress

instructress

enchantress


(iii) By adding –ess to the Masculine in a less regular way:

Masculine

Abbot

Lad

Master

Duke

God

Marquis

Feminine

abbess

lass

miss

duchess

goddess

marchioness


C. By using a word after or before

Masculine

Boy-friend

He-goat

Bull-calf

Son-in-law

Father-in-law

Brother-in-law

Grandfather

Great-uncle

Step-brother

Man-servant

Milkman

Peacock

Landlord

Washerman

Feminine

girl-friend

she-goat

cow-calf

daughter-in-law

mother-in-law

sister-in-law

grandmother

Great-aunt

step-sister

maid-servant

milkmaid

peahen

landlady

washerwoman


Sometimes feminine nouns are made by adding -ine, -trix, -a, etc.

Masculine

Hero

Sultan

Czar

Signor

Administrator

Executor

Prosecuter

Testator

Widower

Bridegroom

Feminine

heroine

sultana

czarina

signora

administratrix

executrix

prosecutrix

testatrix

widow

bride


Special note-

Objects which have no life are often personalized and they are considered as masculine or feminine.

The things which are beauteous and graceful are considered as feminine noun; such as, Moon, river, Nature. For example, a ship is always regarded as a feminine noun.

For example: (Here these bold words are used directly as the opposite of the masculine nouns. These are examples of feminine nouns.)

My mother is a great cook.

I have no sister.

Funi is a girl.

I have a niece.

There is no fee for females in central government employment.

Anima madam is a very gentle lady.

A lady should be honoured.

Jane Austen was an authoress.

Ravan was a son of a giantess

I am the heiress of my family.

Nobody can break a lioness’ heart.

My younger aunt is a good hostess.

 

For example: (In these examples the bold words are the feminine nouns by placing a word after or before.)

Always love an honest girl-friend.

There are so many peahens in the zoo.

I lost my grandmother.

There was a milk-.woman in my aunt’s house.

Anima Mukherjee will be a landlady.


For example: In these bold words the feminine nouns are made by joining suffixes with the masculine nouns.

Sridevi was a heroine.

Miss Joseph will be an administratrix of civil service.

Rajia was a sultana of sultan dynasty.






English Grammar and Composition

From Ways of Forming the Feminine of Nouns to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Amphibolic Pathway | Definition | Examples | Pentose Phosphate Pathway

    Jun 06, 24 10:40 AM

    Amphibolic Pathway
    Definition of amphibolic pathway- Amphibolic pathway is a biochemical pathway where anabolism and catabolism are both combined together. Examples of amphibolic pathway- there are different biochemical…

    Read More

  2. Respiratory Balance Sheet | TCA Cycle | ATP Consumption Process

    Feb 18, 24 01:56 PM

    ATP Synthase in Mitochondria
    The major component that produced during the photosynthesis is Glucose which is further metabolised by the different metabolic pathways like glycolysis, Krebs cycle, TCA cycle and produces energy whic…

    Read More

  3. Electron Transport System and Oxidative Phosphorylation | ETC |Diagram

    Feb 04, 24 01:57 PM

    Electron Transport Chains
    It is also called ETC. Electron transfer means the process where one electron relocates from one atom to the other atom. Definition of electron transport chain - The biological process where a chains…

    Read More

  4. Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle | Krebs Cycle | Steps | End Products |Diagram

    Jan 28, 24 12:39 PM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of process which execute in a cyclical form and final common pathway for oxidation of Carbohydrates fat protein through which acetyl coenzyme a or acetyl CoA is completely oxidised to c…

    Read More

  5. Aerobic Respiration | Definition of Aerobic Respiration | Glycolysis

    Dec 15, 23 08:42 AM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of respiration where molecular free oxygen is used as the final acceptor and it is observed in cell. Site of Aerobic Respiration - Aerobic respiration is observed in most of the eukaryo…

    Read More