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Today’s lesson examines the masculine and feminine noun enfant, which means child and kid. Towards the bottom of the lesson we’ll also look at two slang terms for kids: gamin and gosse.
enfant – [ɑ̃fɑ̃]
child, kid
![Enfant [ɑ̃fɑ̃] French masculine and feminine noun: Child, kid.](https://www.frenchlearner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/enfant.jpg)
![Enfant [ɑ̃fɑ̃] French masculine and feminine noun: Child, kid.](https://www.frenchlearner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/enfant.jpg.webp)
Enfant – child, kid
Word origin
The Modern French noun enfant comes from infans in Latin.
Example sentences
For this first sentence, be careful of the pronunciation of fille. The LL has a light y or [j] sound.
La famille a trois enfants : un garçon et deux filles.
The family has three children — a boy and two girls.
For this second sentence, the expression être en train de + infinitive means to be in the middle of carrying out an action.
Les enfants sont en train de jouer dans la cour.
The kids are playing in the playground.
Allez les enfants, répétez les mots après moi !
Come on kids, repeat the words after me!
These final two example sentences use slang terms for kids: gamin (gaminine in the feminine form) and gosse (both masculine and feminine).
Est-ce que tes gamins vont à la piscine ?
Are the kids playing in the swimming pool?
Je n’aime pas ce gosse. Il est chiant !
I don’t like this (or that) kid. He’s annoying!
Related lessons
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