Like in English, French Adjectives are one of the eight parts of speech. They are a type of modifier as they help you describe the noun in a specific way.
With the help of an adjective, you can describe size, shape, height, weight, color, and other possible qualities of nouns. Although adjectives do the same thing in English and French, their usage is quite different.
Adjectives are extremely easy to use in English. However, mastering them in French requires a lot of study & practice.
To speak fluent French, you need to get past the standard greetings in French. And that can only help when you know how to describe things well and never run out of words.
Thus, today we bring you this beginner’s guide comprising a list of French adjectives to help you become a better French speaker.
What Are French Adjectives?
Adjectives are the words used to describe nouns. The usage of French adjectives varies depending on the gender (masculine or feminine) and quantity (singular or plural) of the noun.
Characteristics of French Adjectives
The adjectives in French offer specific characteristics like
- they modify nouns
- they usually come after the nouns in a sentence
- they must agree in number & gender with nouns
- they can be modified by adverbs
Explore 6 Different Types Of French Adjectives with Example
There are five different types of adjectives in French. They differ in terms of their placement and spelling changes.
Learning all of them at once can be a daunting task. To help you out, below, we have listed each type separately with supporting examples to help you understand better.
1. French BANGS Adjectives
The basic French adjectives rules state that the placement of adjectives is always after the noun. However, the placement varies depending on the noun with which it is being used.
In French, you can only place an adjective before a noun if it falls in the B-A-N-G-S group. B-A-N-G-S is an acronym for Beauty, Age, Numbers, Goodness, and Size.
– B (Beauty)
So, the beauty adjectives like beau, belle (beautiful), joli, and jolie (pretty) come before nouns.
For Example:
- Votre fille est jolie. – Your daughter is pretty.
- Quel beau village! – What a beautiful village !
– A (Age)
The adjectives like jeune (young), vieux, vielle (old), nouveau, and nouvelle (new) that describe the age of the noun go before it.
For Example:
- Je vais au vieux port. – I’m going to the old port.
- J’adore ta nouvelle robe. – I love your new dress.
– N (Numbers)
The numbers acting as adjectives also come in front of the noun.
For Example:
- Je vais enfin me coucher après une longue journée de travail. – I’m finally going to bed after a long day at work.
– G (Goodness)
The adjectives like bon, bonne (good), mauvais, and mauvaise (bad) that help describe the noun’s good or bad quality come before it.
For Example:
- Vous avez fait un bon travail. – You did a good job.
– S (Size)
The adjectives like grand, grande (big, tall), gros, grosse (big), petit, petite (small, short), long, and longue (long) allow you to describe the size of the noun and thus come before it in a sentence.
For Example:
- Quel long couloir! What a long corridor!
– EXCEPTION TO BANGS
The adjective “grand(e)” is the only exception to the BANGS rule.
- When used before oneself, it means “great.”
For Example: un grand homme (a great man)
- But when used after oneself, it means “tall.”
For Example: un homme grand (a tall man)
2. French Regular Adjectives
The regular adjectives are the ones with whom you add an “-e” at the end when changing it from masculine to the feminine form.
As you know, French is all about masculine & feminine words. And the adjectives need to correspond with the gender of the noun.
Suggestion: 10 Common Ways to Say “I Don’t Know” in The French Language With Examples.
So, it does not matter whether you are talking about a person, place, or thing. You have to place the adjective by contemplating the masculinity or feminity of the noun.
Also, regular French adjectives always come after the nouns they define.
– Grand -> Grande = Big, Tall
For Example:
- a big boy- un grand garçon
- a big girl- une grande fille
– Bleu ->Bleue = Blue
For Example:
- The blue pen – Le stylo bleu
- The blue shirt- La chemise bleue
– Gris -> Grise = Gray
For Example:
- A gray scarf – Une écharpe grise
- A gray t-shirt – Un t-shirt gris
– Américain -> Américaine = American
For Example:
- An American man – un homme américain
- An American woman – une femme américaine
– Intelligent ->Intelligente = Smart, Intelligent
For Example:
- A smart man – un homme intelligent
- A smart woman – une femme intelligente
3. French Irregular Adjectives
There are two types of irregular adjectives in French. Some end in a ‘-e,’ and others have spelling changes when placed in a sentence.
– Adjectives that end in ‘-e’
Some adjectives do not follow the rule of adding ‘-e’ at the end to transform from masculine to the feminine form.
Related: 7 Easy Ways To Say ‘Beautiful’ In French Along With Grammar Usage.
These adjectives end in ‘-e,’ whether used with a masculine or feminine noun. And these are the first type of French irregular adjectives.
– Timde = Shy
For Example:
- A shy boy – un garçon timide
- A shy girl – une fille timide
– Rapide = Fast
For Example:
- A fast train – un train rapide
- A fast car – une voiture rapide
– Difficile = Difficult
For Example:
- A difficult exercise – Un exercice difficile
- A difficult life – Une vie difficile
– Rouge = Red
For Example:
- The red light – Le feu rouge
- A red dress – Une robe rouge
– Adjectives with spelling changes
Several adjectives in French do not end with the letter ‘-e.’ Their endings for their masculine & feminine forms are different.
That’s right. Some slightly complex adjectives in French are categorized based on their endings.
Masculine adjectives ending in -f end in -ive in the feminine form
– Actif -> Active = Active
For Example:
- An active man – un homme actif
- An active woman – une femme active
Adjectives ending in -on, -en, and -el
The adjectives that end with ‘-en,’ ‘-on,’ and ‘-el’ double the final consonant before adding an ‘-e’ to change its form.
– Bon -> Bonne = Good
For Example:
- A good son – Un bon fils
- A good suggestion – Une bonne suggestion
– Canadien -> Canadienne = Canadian
For Example:
- A Canadian man – un homme canadien
- A Canadian woman – une femme canadienne
– Cruel ->Cruelle = Cruel
For Example:
- A cruel father – Un père cruel
- A cruel end – Une fin cruelle
Masculine adjectives ending in -eux end -euse in the feminine form
– Heureux ->Heureuse = Happy
For Example:
- A happy man – un homme heureux
- A happy woman – une femme heureuse
– Dangereux ->Dangereuse (Dangerous)
For Example:
- A dangerous man – un homme dangereux
- A dangerous adventure – Une aventure dangereuse
– Sportif -> Sportive = Athletic
For Example:
- An athletic boy – un garçon sportif
- An athletic girl – une fille sportive
Adjectives ending in ‘-et’ & ‘-ete’
Some adjectives end with ‘-et’ but change to ‘-ete’ in their feminine form. However, some change from ‘-et’ to ‘-ette’ in their feminine form.
Similar Post: 9 Best Phrases To Say Good Luck in French With Audio Pronunciation.
– Secret ->Secrète = Secretive
For Example:
- A secretive place – Un endroit secret
- A secretive hideout – Une cachette secrète
– Muet ->Muette = Mute
For Example:
- A silent movie – Un film muet
- A mute woman – une femme muette
Adjectives ending in -er in the masculine form ends in -ère in the feminine form
– Premier -> Première = First
For Example:
- The first salary – Le premier salaire
- The first house – La première maison
Adjectives that are totally different masculine and feminine forms
Some adjectives are spelled completely differently in both feminine and masculine forms.
There are many adjectives of this type but for you to practice below we have a few examples:
- fou ->folle (crazy)
- nouveau -> nouvelle (new)
- blanc -> blanche (white)
- doux ->douce (soft)
- faux ->fausse (false, wrong)
- long -> longue (long)
- public ->publique (public)
- sec ->sèche (dry)
- vieux ->vieille (old)
4. French Plural Adjectives
French adjectives have a separate agreement for plural nouns. All French adjectives must agree in number (singular or plural) with the noun they describe.
For most adjectives, you simply add an ‘-s’ to transform it into plural
There are some adjectives in French with which you can ‘-s’ at the end to transform them from singular to plural.
A. intelligent ->intelligents = intelligent, smart
For Example:
- A smart child – un enfant intelligent
- Smart children – des enfants intelligents
B. petite -> petites = small, short
For Example:
- A little room – une petite chambre
- Little rooms – de petites chambres
C. grand -> grands (big, tall)
For Example:
- A big building – un grand bâtiment
- Big buildings – des bâtiments grands
When masculine adjectives end in -s or -x
If a masculine adjective ends with ‘-s’ or ‘-x,’ it does not change in its plural form.
For Example:
- A french boy – un garçon français
- French boys – des garçons français
- A brave man – un homme courageux
- Brave men – des hommes courageux
Masculine adjectives ending in ‘-al’
All the masculine adjectives that end in ‘-al’ in their singular form end with ‘-aux’ in their plural form.
For Example:
- A great brother – un frère génial
- Great brothers – des frères géniaux
Masculine adjectives ending in ‘-eau’
Some masculine adjectives end in ‘-eau’ and take an ‘-x’ in the plural form.
For Example:
- A beautiful neighborhood – Un beau quartier
- Beautiful neighborhoods – de beaux quartiers
- A new bike – Un nouveau vélo
- New bikes – De nouveaux vélos
5. Adjectives In French That Come Before & After Noun
Some adjectives in French can go both before & after the noun they describe. So, take a closer look at the examples below to better understand.
Don’t Miss To Checkout: 7 Easy Ways to Say “What” In French with Example Sentences.
– Ancien = Former, Old
For Example:
- A former soldier – Un ancien soldat
- An old book – un ancien livre
– Cher = Expensive, Dear
For Example:
- A dear memory – Un cher souvenir
- An expensive ring – Une bague chère
– Propre = One’s Own, Clean
For Example:
- My own house – ma propre maison
- A clean house – une maison propre
– Pauvre = Poor (Pity), Economically Poor
For Example:
- My poor sister – Ma pauvre sœur
- A poor family – une famille pauvre
– Prochain = Next
For Example:
- Next week – la semaine prochaine
- Next month- Le mois prochain
– Dernier = Last
For Example:
- Last year – l’année dernière
- Last month – le mois dernier
6. French Compound Adjectives
The compound adjectives in French combine two separate adjectives to create a new one with a new meaning.
Here are some examples that you can refer to learn more about the unique compound adjectives in French.
- Aigre-Doux – Sweet And Sour
- Bleu clair – Light Blue (Or Any Other Color)
- Rouge foncé – Dark Red (Or Any Other Color)
- Anglo-Saxon – Anglo-Saxon
- Nouveau-nés– Newborns Babies
- L’avant-Dernière – Penultimate
- Ultra-Violet – Ultra-Violet
- Infra-Rouge – Infra-Red
- Sud-Américain – South-American
- Bien-Aimé – Beloved
159 Common French Adjectives to Boost Your Vocabulary
Some adjectives are used more often than others. Below is the list of 159 most commonly used adjectives in French that every learner should know.
- Small- Petit (Masculine)- Petite (Feminine)- Petits (Plural Masculine)
- Big/Tall- Grand (Masculine)- Grande (Feminine)- Grands (Plural Masculine)
- Giant/Huge- Gigantesque (Masculine)- Gigantesque (Feminine)- Gigantesques (Plural Masculine)
- Dangerous- Dangereux (Masculine)- Dangereuse (Feminine)- Dangereux (Plural Masculine)
- Funny- Drôle (Masculine)- Drôle (Feminine)- Drôles (Plural Masculine)
- Great- Super (Masculine)- Super (Feminine)- Super (Plural Masculine)
- Nice- Sympathique (Masculine)- Sympathique (Feminine)- Sympathiques (Plural Masculine)
- Beautiful/Handsome- Beau (Masculine)- Belle (Feminine)- Beaux (Plural Masculine)
- Comfortable- Comfortable (Masculine)- Comfortable (Feminine)- Comfortables (Plural Masculine)
- Difficult- Difficile (Masculine)- Difficile (Feminine)- Difficiles (Plural Masculine)
- Quiet(Calm)- Calme (Masculine)- Calme (Feminine)- Calmes (Plural Masculine)
- Easy- Facile (Masculine)- Facile (Feminine)- Faciles (Plural Masculine)
- Rich/Wealthy- Riche (Masculine)- Riche (Feminine)- Riches (Plural Masculine)
- Poor- Pauvre (Masculine)- Pauvre (Feminine)- Pauvres (Plural Masculine)
- Clean- Propre (Masculine)- Propre (Feminine)- Propres (Plural Masculine)
- Dirty- Sale (Masculine)- Sale (Feminine)- Sales (Plural Masculine)
- Shy- Timide (Masculine)- Timide (Feminine)- Timides (Plural Masculine)
- Fast- Rapide (Masculine)- Rapide (Feminine)- Rapides (Plural Masculine)
- Slow- Lent (Masculine)- Lente (Feminine)- Lents (Plural Masculine)
- Good- Bon (Masculine)- Bonne (Feminine)- Bons (Plural Masculine)
- Cute- Mignon (Masculine)- Mignonne (Feminine)- Mignons (Plural Masculine)
- Bad- Mauvais (Masculine)- Mauvaise (Feminine)- Mauvais (Plural Masculine)
- Pretty- Joli (Masculine)- Jolie (Feminine)- Jolis (Plural Masculine)
- Nice- Gentil (Masculine)- Gentille (Feminine)- Gentils (Plural Masculine)
- Strong- Fort (Masculine)- Forte (Feminine)- Forts (Plural Masculine)
- Crazy- Fou (Masculine)- Folle (Feminine)- Fous (Plural Masculine)
- Weird- Bizarre (Masculine)- Bizarre (Feminine)- Bizarres (Plural Masculine)
- Scary- Effrayant (Masculine)- Effrayante (Feminine)- Effrayants (Plural Masculine)
- Angry- Fâché (Masculine)- Fâchée (Feminine)- Fâchés (Plural Masculine)
- Expensive- Cher (Masculine)- Chère (Feminine)- Chers (Plural Masculine)
- Brave- Courageux (Masculine)- Courageuse (Feminine)- Courageux (Plural Masculine)
- Disoriented- Désorienté (Masculine)- Désorientée (Feminine)- Désorientés (Plural Masculine)
- Ambitious- Ambitieux (Masculine)- Ambitieuse (Feminine)- Ambitieux (Plural Masculine)
- Exhausted- Épuisé (Masculine)- Épuisée (Feminine)- Épuisés (Plural Masculine)
- Tired- Fatigué (Masculine)- Fatiguée (Feminine)- Fatigués (Plural Masculine)
- Serious- Grave (Masculine)- Grave (Feminine)- Graves (Plural Masculine)
- Big/Fat- Gros (Masculine)- Grosse (Feminine)- Gros (Plural Masculine)
- Fair- Juste (Masculine)- Juste (Feminine)- Justes (Plural Masculine)
- Free- Libre (Masculine)- Libre (Feminine)- Libres (Plural Masculine)
- Best- Meilleur (Masculine)- Meilleure (Feminine)- Meilleurs (Plural Masculine)
- New- Nouveau (Masculine)- Nouvelle (Feminine)- Nouveaux (Plural Masculine)
- Light- Léger (Masculine)- Légère (Feminine)- Légers (Plural Masculine)
- Ugly- Moche (Masculine)- Moche (Feminine)- Moches (Plural Masculine)
- Sorry- Navré (Masculine)- Navrée (Feminine)- Navrés (Plural Masculine)
- Same- Pareil (Masculine)- Pareille (Feminine)- Pareils (Plural Masculine)
- Broke- Ruiné (Masculine)- Ruinée (Feminine)- Ruinés (Plural Masculine)
- In A Hurry- Pressé (Masculine)- Pressée (Feminine)- Pressés (Plural Masculine)
- Ready- Prêt (Masculine)- Prête (Feminine)- Prêts (Plural Masculine)
- Delighted- Ravi (Masculine)- Ravie (Feminine)- Ravis (Plural Masculine)
- Relaxed- Détendu (Masculine)- Détendue (Feminine)- Détendus (Plural Masculine)
- Quiet- Tranquille (Masculine)- Tranquille (Feminine)- Tranquilles (Plural Masculine)
- Hard-Working- Travailleur (Masculine)- Travailleuse (Feminine)- Travailleurs (Plural Masculine)
- Sad- Triste (Masculine)- Triste (Feminine)- Tristes (Plural Masculine)
- Curious- Curieux (Masculine)- Curieuse (Feminine)- Curieux (Plural Masculine)
- Old- Vieux (Masculine)- Vieille (Feminine)- Vieux (Plural Masculine)
- Naughty/Mean- Méchant (Masculine)- Méchante (Feminine)- Méchants (Plural Masculine)
- Worried – Inquiet (Masculine)- Inquiète (Feminine)- Inquiets (Plural Masculine)
- High- Haut (Masculine)- Haute (Feminine)- Hauts (Plural Masculine)
- Low- Bas (Masculine)- Basse (Feminine)- Bas (Plural Masculine)
- Breathtaking- Époustouflant (Masculine)- Époustouflante (Feminine)- Époustouflants (Plural Masculine)
- Thin- Mince (Masculine)- Mince (Feminine)- Minces (Plural Masculine)
- Soft- Doux (Masculine)- Douce (Feminine)- Doux (Plural Masculine)
- Clear- Clair (Masculine)- Claire (Feminine)- Clairs (Plural Masculine)
- Patient- Patient (Masculine)- Patiente (Feminine)- Patients (Plural Masculine)
- Last- Dernier (Masculine)- Dernière (Feminine)- Derniers (Plural Masculine)
- Poisonous- Vénimeux (Masculine)- Vénimeuse (Feminine)- Vénimeux (Plural Masculine)
- Alone- Seul (Masculine)- Seule (Feminine)- Seuls (Plural Masculine)
- Impatient- Impatient (Masculine)- Impatiente (Feminine)- Impatients (Plural Masculine)
- Serious- Sérieux (Masculine)- Sérieuse (Feminine)- Sérieux (Plural Masculine)
- Young- Jeune (Masculine)- Jeune (Feminine)- Jeunes (Plural Masculine)
- Rustic- Rustique (Masculine)- Rustique (Feminine)- Rustiques (Plural Masculine)
- Curly- Bouclé (Masculine)- Bouclée (Feminine)- Bouclés (Plural Masculine)
- Happy- Heureux (Masculine)- Heureuse (Feminine)- Heureux (Plural Masculine)
- Leaning/Tilted- Penché (Masculine)- Penchée (Feminine)- Penchées (Plural Masculine)
- Stiff- Raide (Masculine)- Raide (Feminine)- Raides (Plural Masculine)
- Polite- Poli (Masculine)- Polie (Feminine)- Polis (Plural Masculine)
- Rude- Impoli (Masculine)- Impolie (Feminine)- Impolis (Plural Masculine)
- Weak- Faible (Masculine)- Faible (Feminine)- Faibles (Plural Masculine)
- Cheap- Bon Marché (Masculine)- Bon Marché (Feminine)- Bon Marché (Plural Masculine)
- Big- Volumineux (Masculine)- Volumineuse (Feminine)- Volumineux (Plural Masculine)
- Horrible- Horrible (Masculine)- Horrible (Feminine)- Horribles (Plural Masculine)
- Great- Formidable (Masculine)- Formidable (Feminine)- Formidables (Plural Masculine)
- Smart- Intelligent (Masculine)- Intelligente (Feminine)- Intelligents (Plural Masculine)
- Stupid- Stupide (Masculine)- Stupide (Feminine)- Stupides (Plural Masculine)
- Interesting- Intéressant (Masculine)- Intéressante (Feminine)- Intéressants (Plural Masculine)
- Boring- Ennuyeux (Masculine)- Ennuyeuse (Feminine)- Ennuyeux (Plural Masculine)
- Trendy- Branché (Masculine)- Branchanée (Feminine)- Branchés (Plural Masculine)
- Reasonable- Raisonnable (Masculine)- Raisonnable (Feminine)- Raisonnables (Plural Masculine)
- Strict- Strict (Masculine)- Stricte (Feminine)- Stricts (Plural Masculine)
- Unhappy- Malheureux (Masculine)- Malheureuse (Feminine)- Malheureux (Plural Masculine)
- Famous- Célèbre (Masculine)- Célèbre (Feminine)- Célèbres (Plural Masculine)
- Popular- Populaire (Masculine)- Populaire (Feminine)- Populaires (Plural Masculine)
- Emotional- Émotif (Masculine)- Émotive (Feminine)- Émotifs (Plural Masculine)
- Useful- Utile (Masculine)- Utile (Feminine)- Utiles (Plural Masculine)
- Hot- Chaud (Masculine)- Chaude (Feminine)- Chauds (Plural Masculine)
- Whimsical- Fantasque (Masculine)- Fantasque (Feminine)- Fantasques (Plural Masculine)
- Pale- Pâle (Masculine)- Pâle (Feminine)- Pâles (Plural Masculine)
- Tanned- Bronzé (Masculine)- Bronzée (Feminine)- Bronzés (Plural Masculine)
- Foolish- Idiot (Masculine)- Idiote (Feminine)- Idiots (Plural Masculine)
- Happy- Content (Masculine)- Contente (Feminine)- Contents (Plural Masculine)
- Laughing- Rieur (Masculine)- Rieuse (Feminine)- Rieurs (Plural Masculine)
- Positive – Positif (Masculine)- Positive (Feminine)- Positifs (Plural Masculine)
- Negative- Négatif (Masculine)- Négative (Feminine)- Négatifs (Plural Masculine)
- Greedy- Gourmand (Masculine)- Gourmande (Feminine)- Gourmands (Plural Masculine)
- First- Premier (Masculine)- Première (Feminine)- Premiers (Plural Masculine)
- Last- Dernier (Masculine)- Dernière (Feminine)- Derniers (Plural Masculine)
- Previous- Précédent (Masculine)- Précédente (Feminine)- Précédents (Plural Masculine)
- Next- Suivant (Masculine)- Suivante (Feminine)- Suivants (Plural Masculine)
- Brilliant- Brillant (Masculine)- Brillante (Feminine)- Brillants (Plural Masculine)
- Gifted- Doué (Masculine)- Douée (Feminine)- Doués (Plural Masculine)
- Talented- Talentueux (Masculine)- Talentueuse (Feminine)- Talentueux (Plural Masculine)
- Reasonable- Raisonnable (Masculine)- Raisonnable (Feminine)- Raisonnables (Plural Masculine)
- Blasé- Blasé (Masculine)- Blasée (Feminine)- Blasés (Plural Masculine)
- Exciting- passionnant (Masculine)- passionnante (Feminine)- passionnants (Plural Masculine)
- Thrilling- palpitant (Masculine)- palpitante (Feminine)- palpitants (Plural Masculine)
- Fascinating- Fascinant (Masculine)- Fascinante (Feminine)- Fascinants (Plural Masculine)
- Appetizing- Appétissant (Masculine)- Appétissante (Feminine)- Appétissants (Plural Masculine)
- Attractive- Attrayant (Masculine)- Attrayante (Feminine)- Attrayants (Plural Masculine)
- Picturesque- Pittoresque (Masculine)- Pittoresque (Feminine)- Pittoresques (Plural Masculine)
- Magnificent- Magnifique (Masculine)- Magnifique (Feminine)- Magnifiques (Plural Masculine)
- Incredible- Incroyable (Masculine)- Incroyable (Feminine)- Incroyables (Plural Masculine)
- Awesome- Génial (Masculine)- Géniale (Feminine)- Géniaux (Plural Masculine)
- Fantastic- Fantastique (Masculine)- Fantastique (Feminine)- Fantastiques (Plural Masculine)
- Sunny- Ensoleillé (Masculine)- Ensoleillée (Feminine)- Ensoleillés (Plural Masculine)
- Rainy- Pluvieux (Masculine)- Pluvieuse (Feminine)- Pluvieux (Plural Masculine)
- Cloudy- Nuageux (Masculine)- Nuageuse (Feminine)- Nuageux (Plural Masculine)
- White- Blanc (Masculine)- Blanche (Feminine)- Blancs (Plural Masculine)
- Black- Noir (Masculine)- Noire (Feminine)- Noirs (Plural Masculine)
- Gray- Gris (Masculine)- Grise (Feminine)- Gris (Plural Masculine)
- Yellow- Jaune (Masculine)- Jaune (Feminine)- Jaunes (Plural Masculine)
- Orange- Orange (Masculine)- Orange (Feminine)- Orange (Plural Masculine)
- Red- Rouge (Masculine)- Rouge (Feminine)- Rouges (Plural Masculine)
- Pink- Rose (Masculine)- Rose (Feminine)- Roses (Plural Masculine)
- Purple- Violet (Masculine)- Violette (Feminine)- Violets (Plural Masculine)
- Green- Vert (Masculine)- Verte (Feminine)- Verts (Plural Masculine)
- Blue- Bleu (Masculine)- Bleue (Feminine)- Bleus (Plural Masculine)
- Fun- Amusant (Masculine)- Amusante (Feminine)- Amusants (Plural Masculine)
- Complicated- Compliqué (Masculine)- Compliquée (Feminine)- Compliqués (Plural Masculine)
- Simple- Simple (Masculine)- Simple- Simples (Plural Masculine)
- Hairy- Poilu (Masculine)- Poilue (Feminine)- Poilus (Plural Masculine)
- Thick- Épais (Masculine)- Épaisse (Feminine)- Épais (Plural Masculine)
- Thin- Fin (Masculine)- Fine (Feminine)- Fins (Plural Masculine)
- Close- Proche (Masculine)- Proche (Feminine)- Proches (Plural Masculine)
- Long- Long (Masculine)- Longe (Feminine)- Longs (Plural Masculine)
- Short- Court (Masculine)- Courte (Feminine)- Courts (Plural Masculine)
- Narrow- Étroit (Masculine)- Étroite (Feminine)- Étroits (Plural Masculine)
- Wide- Large (Masculine)- Large (Feminine)- Larges (Plural Masculine)
- Full- Plein (Masculine)- Pleine (Feminine)- Pleins (Plural Masculine)
- Empty- Vide (Masculine)- Vide (Feminine)- Vides (Plural Masculine)
- Light- Léger (Masculine)- Légère (Feminine)- Légers (Plural Masculine)
- Heavy- Lourd (Masculine)- Lourde (Feminine)- Lourds (Plural Masculine)
- Cold- Froid (Masculine)- Froide (Feminine)- Froids (Plural Masculine)
- Wet- Humide (Masculine)- Humide (Feminine)- Humides (Plural Masculine)
- Dry- Sec (Masculine)- Sèche (Feminine)- Secs (Plural Masculine)
- Fragile- Fragile (Masculine)- Fragile (Feminine)- Fragiles (Plural Masculine)
- Robust- Robuste (Masculine)- Robuste (Feminine)- Robustes (Plural Masculine)
11 Other Common Adjectives In French
Other than the most commonly used adjectives in the French language mentioned above, there are a few others that you should know to describe a noun better.
Also Read: 100+ Tasty Vegetables In French To Make Your Vocab More Yummy.
Every French learner should have a strengthened adjective vocabulary to speak smooth French, especially with native French speakers.
1. Petit – Small or of little importance
For Example:
- A small conflict – Un petit conflit
- The house is small -La maison est petite
2. Drôle – Something that surprises you or makes you laugh
For Example:
- What a funny story! – Quelle histoire drôle !
- So funny ! – Trop drôle!
3. Grand – Large, tall, important, worthy of respect
Suggestion: Learn 150+ Basic French Travel Phrases To Master For Your Next Trip To France.
For Example:
- A big adventure – Une grande aventure.
- A great musician – Un grand musicien
- He is tall – Il est grand de taille
4. Premier – First
For Example:
- The first level – Le premier niveau
- The first condition – La première condition
5. Super – Super, great, extraordinary
For Example:
- A great match- Un match super
- Great!- Super !
6. Possible – Possible, doable, believable
For Example:
- No? No way! (Expression of surprise and disbelief)- Non? Ce n’est pas possible!
- It’s possible…- C’est possible…
7. Jeune – Young
For Example:
- Couple that just got married – Les jeunes mariés
- A young girl- Une jeune fille
- A young man- Un jeune homme
- Your mother looks quite young.- Ta mère a l’air assez jeune.
8. Dernier – Last
For Example:
- He finished the last exercise. – Il a terminé le dernier exercice.
- The last train – Le dernier train
9. Nouveau – New
For Example:
- A new beginning – Un nouveau départ
- That’s new ! – C’est nouveau !
10. Grave – Serious, considerable, critical
For Example:
- A serious problem – Un grave problème
- His injury is not serious. -Sa blessure n’est pas grave.
- It does not matter. – Ce n’est pas grave.
11. Public/ique – Public
For Example:
- A public area- Un lieu public.
- To work in the public sector- Travailler dans le secteur public
- It’s a public property. – C’est une propriété publique.
7 Different Phrases In French Using French Adjectives
There are times when a sentence is completely defined by the adjective used in it. You do not need any extra words to do the task for you.
Below we have a list of phrases that can show you how you can show positive & negative traits about a person, place, or thing by using adjectives.
- A delicious desert – Un dessert délicieux (masculine singular)
- A delicious custard – Une crème délicieuse (feminine singular)
- It is a good place – C’est un bon endroit (masculine singular)
- It is a good initiative. – C’est une bonne initiative. (feminine singular)
- Myfriend is Indian- Mon ami est indien (masculine singular)
- He lives in the old house. – Il habite la vieille maison.
- Such a handsome boy! – Un si beau garçon! (masculine singular)
Top FAQs About – Types Of Adjectives In French
Where to Place French Adjectives?
Unlike English, most adjectives in French are placed after the noun. It might seem odd, but this is how the word order of adjectives works in French.
But not all French adjectives follow this rule. As stated, some French adjectives come after the noun, while others come before the noun.
Also, some adjectives in French can be used before and after the noun. Thus, as you progress in your learning, you must learn which adjectives can be placed where and with which type of nouns.
Why a French adjective could change places?
The more you study French; you will learn that the concept of adjectives is bigger than in English.
You will notice that you can place any French adjective before or after a noun depending on the gender of the noun & other scenarios.
Although this place shift is not common for all adjectives, a few do it.
One general rule in French for adjective placement is that if an adjective is placed before a noun, its meaning is abstract or figurative.
But if an adjective is placed after a noun, its meaning is unbiased or literal.
What is the effect of gender and number on adjectives in the French language?
In French, most adjectives modify based on the GENDER and NUMBER (singular or plural) of the noun they describe.
However, a few invariable adjectives never change regardless of the number or gender of the noun.
When describing a feminine noun, many adjectives add ‘-e’ at the end. However, if the adjective already ends with a silent “e,” there is no need to add one.
Also, a few adjectives add ‘-s’ at the end when describing a plural noun. However, the addition is not required if the adjective already ends in ‘s.’
How to place & modify the most common adjectives?
The most common adjectives of French belong to the B-A-N-G-S group. And if you remember, BANGS adjectives are always placed before the nouns they describe.
Any adjective about beauty, age, size, goodness, and number will come before the noun.
For Example:
• A little box – Une petite boîte
• An old tree – Un vieil arbre
How to use more than one adjective in a sentence?
In French, you can place more than one adjective in a sentence. You mostly do the placement by placing one adjective before the noun and the other after the noun.
For Example:
• A young, sweet girl – Une jeune fille douce
• A small, pointy nose – Un petit chapeau nez
In another scenario, you can also place both adjectives after the noun. In a list form, no matter how many adjectives you use, the last one must be preceded by “et,” which means “and.”
Remember, not saying or including the “et” can change the sentence’s meaning.
For Example:
• A gray round ashtray – Un cendrier rond et gris
• A nice, loving and caring wife – Une femme gentille, aimante et attentionnée
Conclusion
Adjectives are a crucial part of the vocabulary. You must pay close attention to French adjectives to strengthen your French learning.
With the help of adjectives, you can express your emotions & feelings much better. Plus, become more fluent in French.
Practice all the rules & examples of 150+ adjectives to become a master in French.