The Difference Between “Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces” in French (Made Easy for Learners)

Mastering “Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces” in French: A Complete Guide for Beginners

If you’ve been studying French for a while, you’ve probably seen words like ce, cet, cette, and ces and wondered, “Aren’t they all just this or that?”
Well… yes, but there’s a catch! Each one changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes — and sometimes even the sound that follows.

Don’t worry — by the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly when to use ce, cet, cette, and ces and avoid one of the most common beginner mistakes in French grammar.

What Are “Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces”?

These four words are called demonstrative adjectives (in French: adjectifs démonstratifs). They are used to point out or indicate something specific.

In English, they mean “this” or “that” (for singular nouns) and “these” or “those” (for plural nouns).

For example:

• Ce livre → This book / That book

• Cette maison → This house / That house

• Ces enfants → These children / Those children

The difference between this and that doesn’t exist in French — ce can mean both.

1. “Ce” – For Masculine Singular Nouns

Use ce before a masculine singular noun that begins with a consonant sound.

Examples:

• Ce chien est adorable. → This dog is adorable.

• Ce garçon est gentil. → That boy is kind.

• Ce problème est difficile. → This problem is difficult.

But be careful: if the masculine noun begins with a vowel, you cannot use ce. That’s when you switch to cet.

2. “Cet” – For Masculine Singular Nouns Starting with a Vowel or Silent “H”

When a masculine singular noun starts with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) or a mute h, use cet instead of ce.

Why? Because French prefers smooth pronunciation — cet homme sounds nicer than ce homme!

Examples:

• Cet arbre est vieux. → This tree is old.

• Cet ami est fidèle. → This friend is loyal.

• Cet homme est professeur. → That man is a teacher.

• Cet hôtel est cher. → This hotel is expensive.

Pronunciation Tip:
The “t” at the end of cet is silent. You pronounce it like “seh.”

3. “Cette” – For Feminine Singular Nouns

For any feminine singular noun, use cette, no matter the letter it begins with.

Examples:

• Cette fille est intelligente. → This girl is smart.

• Cette robe est jolie. → That dress is pretty.

• Cette école est nouvelle. → This school is new.

• Cette heure est importante. → This hour is important.

So whenever your noun is feminine, you can relax — cette is always correct!

4. “Ces” – For All Plural Nouns

Whether the noun is masculine or feminine, singular or plural, once it becomes plural, use ces.

Examples:

• Ces garçons sont heureux. → These boys are happy.

• Ces filles sont drôles. → Those girls are funny.

• Ces livres sont intéressants. → These books are interesting.

• Ces idées sont originales. → Those ideas are original.

Tip: In French, ces can mean “these” or “those” — the context will tell you which one fits.

Using “Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces” in Conversation

In spoken French, people often add -ci and -là to clarify whether they mean this or that:

Examples:

• Ce livre-ci → this book

• Ce livre-là → that book

• Ces enfants-ci → these children

• Ces enfants-là → those children
  

It’s a great trick to sound more natural when speaking!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. ❌ Ce amie est gentille.
   ✅ Cette amie est gentille.
   (Amie is feminine, so use cette.)

2. ❌ Ce hôtel est moderne.
   ✅ Cet hôtel est moderne.
   (Hôtel starts with a silent “h,” so use cet.)

3. ❌ Ces maison sont grandes.
   ✅ Ces maisons sont grandes.
   (Don’t forget the plural “s” on maisons.)

Final Tip

Learning to choose between ce, cet, cette, and ces is easier than it looks — it’s all about gender, number, and sound. Once you start noticing the patterns, it will become automatic.

So next time you describe something in French, take a moment to think:
Is it masculine or feminine? Singular or plural? Starting with a vowel?
Then choose the right demonstrative adjective — and voilà, you’ll sound instantly more fluent!