Substantives are either masculine or feminine, as are also the first three numerals, which, have masculine and feminine forms.

The genders of nouns expressing human beings are according to sex; all other living creatures, irrespective of sex, are masculine. All things made of wood are masculine, and all metals or things made of metal are feminine, except jamé ‘a bow,’ which is feminine; and toomák ‘a gun,’ dîdoo ‘a bullet,’ chùr ‘a knife,’ and ‘coined money,’ which are masculine. Things made of cloth of any kind are feminine, with, some exceptions. All trees, plants, and grains are feminine, with one or two exceptions; and fruits are masculine, except gaing ‘a grape,’ which is feminine. All liquids are feminine.