Learn French: Une cravate est très professionnelle.

Une cravate est très professionnelle.

A tie is very professional.

Breakdown of Une cravate est très professionnelle.

Questions & Answers about Une cravate est très professionnelle.

Why does professionnelle end in -elle here?

In French, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. Because une cravate (a tie) is a feminine noun, the adjective takes its feminine form. For adjectives ending in -el like the masculine professionnel, you double the l and add an e to make it feminine: professionnelle.

Is une cravate exactly the same thing as a cravat in English?

They are related, but in modern French, une cravate simply means a standard necktie that you would wear with a business suit. An old-fashioned cravat or ascot would usually be called something else, like une lavallière.

Are all nouns that end in -te feminine like une cravate?

Many nouns ending in -te are feminine, but it is not a strict rule. There are common masculine exceptions like un doute (a doubt) or un acte (an act). Your best clue is always to learn the noun with its article, like une!