Article agreement with professions that are the same for both genders

Amber D.A2Kwiziq community member

Article agreement with professions that are the same for both genders

Why doesn't the article change for médecin (Il y a un médecin et un médecin femme), when it does so for professeur (Le professeur s'appelle Eric. La professeur s'appelle Noémie)?

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Amber, 

There is much discussion about this topic at the Q&A at the end of the lesson. Things are changing on this matter and this lesson is up for review in line with currents trends.

You could say -

La professeure s'appelle Noémie 

La médecin sounds wrong to me but la femme médecin or la doctoresse is used.

Grammatically speaking, you would have to agree the noun with the article making 'médecine' which is the discipline and not the profession, so maybe that's why.

Bonne Continuation!

Article agreement with professions that are the same for both genders

Why doesn't the article change for médecin (Il y a un médecin et un médecin femme), when it does so for professeur (Le professeur s'appelle Eric. La professeur s'appelle Noémie)?

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