patients

Patients can be both masculine and feminine in French. When used as a noun meaning "patient" (a sick person), it agrees with the gender of the person: "un patient" (a male patient) or "une patiente" (a female patient). When used as an adjective meaning "patient" (showing patience), it also agrees with gender: "patient" (masculine singular), "patiente" (feminine singular). The word derives from Latin "patiens," but French nouns ending in "-ent" derived from Latin participles typically form their feminine by adding "-e," making them variable in gender rather than strictly masculine.