The French feminine form of “cheval” (meaning “horse”) is “jument”, which specifically refers to a mare (a female horse). While “cheval” is a masculine noun that generally refers to any horse, regardless of gender, “jument” is used when the horse is explicitly female.
Explanation:
- Cheval: Masculine noun, used generically for horses.
Example: Le cheval court dans le champ. (The horse runs in the field.) - Jument: Feminine noun, specifically meaning a female horse.
Example: La jument est très rapide. (The mare is very fast.)
It’s important to note that not all animals in French have distinct masculine and feminine forms. However, for horses, this distinction exists because of their prominence in French culture and language.
Related Words:
- Poulain: A colt or young male horse.
- Pouliche: A filly or young female horse.
- Étalon: A stallion (adult male horse).
In summary, while “cheval” refers to horses in general, the feminine equivalent in terms of gender is “jument”, used when specifying a female horse.