Learn French: Cet infirmier parle avec le médecin. - This nurse is speaking with the doctor.

Cet infirmier parle avec le médecin.

This nurse is speaking with the doctor.

Breakdown of Cet infirmier parle avec le médecin.

Questions & Answers about Cet infirmier parle avec le médecin.

Why is it cet infirmier instead of ce infirmier?

Because infirmier is a masculine noun that starts with a vowel. In French, the masculine word for "this" (ce) changes to cet before a vowel or mute H to make the pronunciation smoother. Even though it sounds exactly like the feminine cette, it is grammatically masculine.

How do I change this sentence if the nurse is a woman?

You would change the noun to its feminine form, infirmière. Because the noun is now feminine, you must use the feminine word for "this" (cette). The sentence becomes: Cette infirmière parle avec le médecin.

Is there a difference between parle avec le médecin and parle au médecin?

They are very similar, just like "speaks with" and "speaks to" in English. Parler avec emphasizes a two-way conversation or discussion. Parler à (which combines with le to become au) focuses a bit more on who the speech is directed toward, but they are often used interchangeably.

If the doctor is a woman, do I still say le médecin?

Traditionally, the word médecin remained masculine (le médecin) even for female doctors. However, modern French increasingly uses la médecin for women in the profession. In this sentence, le médecin could mean the doctor is a man, or it might just be used as a neutral, general term.