Hi Joan,
Yes, indeed you can say it both ways.
Chacun/chacune and chaque sound similar so it's easy to mix them up. Here's how to use them correctly.
To express each/every in French, there are different expressions depending on sentences:
Chaque pays avait envoyé une délégation.
Each country had sent a delegation.
Chaque jour, cela devient plus facile.
Each day, it becomes easier.
Chacune des femmes apporte un plat.
Each of the women is bringing a dish.
Chacun des lutins a une tâche spécifique.
Each one of the elves has a specific task.
Chacune des tables était décorée avec goût.
Each one of the tables was decorated tastefully.
ATTENTION
Chacun d'entre vous mérite une récompense.
Each one of you deserves a reward.
Je respecte chacune d'entre elles.
I respect each one of them.
I respect every one of them.
Les filles sont élégantes: chacune porte une robe.
The girls are elegant: each one wears a dress.
On a le droit à un gâteau chacun.
We're allowed one cake each.
ATTENTION
See also the opposite:
Ne ... aucun(e) = None (negation)
and Aucun/e … ne = None of them (negation)
Chacun des lutins a une tâche spécifique.
Each one of the elves has a specific task.
Mais dans chaque maison,
Il flotte un air de fête,
But in each house,
There's a festive air,
Chaque pays avait envoyé une délégation.
Each country had sent a delegation.
Chacun d'entre vous mérite une récompense.
Each one of you deserves a reward.
Chacune des femmes apporte un plat.
Each of the women is bringing a dish.
Je respecte chacune d'entre elles.
I respect each one of them.
I respect every one of them.
Chaque jour, cela devient plus facile.
Each day, it becomes easier.
On a le droit à un gâteau chacun.
We're allowed one cake each.
Les filles sont élégantes: chacune porte une robe.
The girls are elegant: each one wears a dress.
Chacune des tables était décorée avec goût.
Each one of the tables was decorated tastefully.
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It may be useful to link lessons for 'aucun(e)', the opposite of chacun(e).
Bonjour Jinn !
Thanks for that excellent suggestion! The links have now been added to that lesson :)
Merci et bonne journée !
It may be useful to link lessons for 'aucun(e)', the opposite of chacun(e).
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I think it is because we are talking about each one of them (chacun/chacune) but with a collective result that they all do it.
I hadn’t noticed that. Thanks for highlighting this. Reading through the answers has improved my understanding on this point.
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