Definite Articles (Les Articles Définis)

In French, there are four definite articles.

LE -- pronounce (luh) - for masculine singular
LA -- pronounce (la) - for feminine singular
L' -- infront of vowels (a,e,i,o,u & sometimes h)
LES -- pronounce (lay) - for plural

All the four definite articles above can be translated as "the" in English.

Examples:

the ballpen - le stylo
the calculator - la calculatrice
the computer - l'ordinateur
the friends - les amis

Indefinite Articles (Les Articles Indéfinis)

In French there are three indefinite articles.

UN-- pronounce (ah(n))- for masculine singular
UNE --pronounce (ewn)- for feminine singular
DES -- pronounce (day)- for plural

UN and UNE can be translated as "a" or "an" in English. DES can be translated either as "some"or can be left untranslated.

Examples:

a book = un livre
a table = une table
boys = des garçon

TIPS: If you can't memorize the gender of a noun, the best way is by referring your French Dictionary. So get one now!

Contracted Articles (Articles Contractés)

The definite articles in French are Le, La, L' and Les which means "The" in English.

Le is for masculine singular
La is for feminine singular
L' is for vowels
Les is for plural

The definite articles and prepositions À (to/at/in) contract to form the contracted articles.

Examples:

She goes to Paris.
Elle va à Paris.

She is in Nice.
Elle est à Nice.

The preposition À and the definite articles contract in the following manner to form contracted articles. All these contracted articles can be translated as "to the". "at the" or "in the".

À + le -- becomes Au

À + la -- becomes À la

À + l' -- becomes À l'

À + les -- becomes Aux

Examples:

1) She goes to the market
Elle va (à + le) au marché.

Note: the definite article "le" is used on the above example because "marché"(market) is masculine gender and singular.

2) He goes to the station.
Il va (à + la)à la gare.

Note: the definite article "la" is used on the above example because "gare"(station) is feminine gender and singular.

3) We are at the airport.
Nous sommes (à + l') à l'aéroport.

Note: the definite article "l'" is used on the above example because the word aéroport (airport) starts with a vowel.

4) They go to the schools.
Il vont ( à + les) aux écoles.

Note: the definite article "les" is used on the above example because "écoles"(schools) is plural.