Definite Articles: le, la, l', les
Every French noun has a gender. The article you use reveals it.
In French, every noun is either masculine or feminine; there is no neuter. The definite article (like 'the' in English) changes depending on that gender and whether the noun starts with a vowel or h.
DEFINITE ARTICLES: le, la, l', les: four forms of 'the'. LE = masculine singular: le café (the café; coffee), le livre (the book), le pain (the bread), le tableau (the blackboard)
LA = feminine singular: la femme (the woman; wife), la table (the table), la ville (the city), la langue (the language)
L' = VOWEL OR SILENT H: any singular noun (m. or f.) starting with a vowel sound or a silent H: l'ami (the friend (m.)), l'amie (the friend (f.)), l'eau (the water), l'heure (the hour; o'clock), l'homme (the man; human being), l'hôtel (the hotel)
LES = all plurals: les livres (the books), les femmes (the women; wives), les amis (the friends) (S→Z liaison before vowel, obligatory)
- Je lis le livre. — I am reading the book.
- La fenêtre est ouverte. — The window is open.
- J'entends l'oiseau. — I hear the bird.
- Les enfants jouent. — The children are playing.