IanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

So! with regard to English counties, Where does Mersyside come into it. Male or female?

This question relates to:French lesson "Venir de, d', du, des + country / state / region = To come/be from"

Asked 2 years ago

AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Ian !

Mmmmmhhh, I checked to make sure that my first instinct was correct, and indeed, Merseyside is masculine in French:

J'habite dans le Merseyside.

See https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyside

This got me wondering whether all English counties are actually considered as masculine in French (regardless of their ending), so I went around to check.

It turns out that Merseyside seems to be the only -e county (except for the -shire ones), and all are masculine, with two notable exceptions:

- Cornwall, which in French is translated as la or les Cornouailles.
- Isle of Wight, which is a special case due to the term "île" : l'île de Wight.

J'habite en Cornouailles.
J'habite (sur) l'île de Wight.

Thanks to you, I learned something today :)

I hope that's helpful to you too!
Bonne journée !

Like02 years ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I would treat it as a feminine region (the "-shires" being exceptions to the rule): Je viens de la Mersyside. Je vais en Mersyside. -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Like02 years ago

IanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you, Claus/Chris. On your advice, from now on I will treat it as feminine. :)

Like02 years ago

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Ian, Chris, je m'excuse, mais voyez ces deux leçons-ci: Venir de, d', du, des + country / state / region = To come/be from Continents, countries, regions & states are masculine, feminine or plural (gender) English provinces ending in "-shire" are masculine Ron

Like02 years ago

IanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Ron, Thanks for your help, but I'm still confused. Are we saying then that all English counties are masculine?

Like02 years ago

IanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Ron, Thanks for your help, but I'm still confused. Are we saying then that all English counties are masculine?

Like02 years ago

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The take-away from the lesson that I referenced would be that all of the «-shires» are masculine; if there are other counties that have endings other than -shire then they may be feminine or masculine. Aurélie clearly notes this in both of the lessons that I referenced. You might wish to consider addressing this to Aurélie specifically. I understand that she lives in the UK so would have first-hand knowledge. My response to your question is based solely on the lesson. Bonne journée,

Like02 years ago

IanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Ron, Thanks for taking the time to help me.I will take your advice and ask Aurélie. Merci encore et passez une bonne journée. Ian.

Like02 years ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, of course the -shires are masculine. If you reread my original post that's what I said: they are the exception to the rule that all regions ending on e are feminine. I apologize if I haven't been clear on that. -- Chris.

Like02 years ago

Ian asked:View original

So! with regard to English counties, Where does Mersyside come into it. Male or female?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

« Quebec bonsoir!pourquoi ¨je vais en ville »

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level >>