Shortened Forms
Nouns can be shortened in different ways: abbreviation, ellipsis, acronym... However, gender will always remain the same.
Abbreviations
automobile f. gives > auto f.
météorologie f. gives > météo f.
photographie f. gives > photo f.
télévision f. gives > télé f.
vidéo-cassette f. gives > vidéo f.
haute fidélité f. gives > hifi f. (translation of Eng. high fidelity)
passe-partout m. > passe m. (verb based compouns are masculine)
These endings (slang) don't change the meaning nor the grammatical category of the original noun.
cinéma m. gives > cinoche m.
télévision f. gives > téloche f.
exercice m. gives > exo m.
restaurant m. gives > resto m.
Acronyms
They can be read letter by letter (sigle) or as a word (acronyme).
parti socialiste m. gives > P.S. m.
Société nationale des chemins de fer f. gives > SNCF f.
bande dessinée f. gives > bédé f.
Syndrome immunodéficitaire acquis m. gives > SIDA m.
The adjective (or part of it) takes over and replaces the noun.
téléphone portable m. gives > portable m.
sauce béchamel f. gives > béchamel f.
classe préparatoire f. gives > prépa f.
machine dynamoélectrique f. gives > dynamo f.
This page written by Ginette Chamart Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.