Féminines

Féminines is a term used in French grammar and vocabulary to denote the feminine plural. It is the feminine plural form of the adjective féminin, and it can also function as a noun to refer collectively to women or to female groups, especially in sports or organizational contexts.

In grammar, words in French must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. The feminine singular form is féminine, and the feminine plural is féminines. For example, you would say caractéristiques féminines (feminine characteristics) or équipes féminines (women’s teams). When used as a noun, les féminines can refer to female people or teams, as in a sports club where the women’s team is called the féminines.

Usage and nuance play an important role in contemporary language. The term often appears in media, sports reporting, and institutional language to designate female groups without repeating femmes or using possessive phrases. Some contexts prefer more specific designations such as femmes, équipes féminines, or joueuses for individual players, depending on formality and precision.

Féminines thus serves as both a grammatical category and a practical designation for female entities in French. Its use reflects broader patterns of gender marking in the language and participates in ongoing discussions about inclusive and precise language. See also gender in French, agreement in French, and feminine nouns and adjectives.