Adjectives

An adjective is a word that describes a noun, like grand, intéressant or orange. In French, most adjectives go after the noun they modify.

un professeur intéressant des enfants gâtés
un ballon rouge un chien méchant
une femme professionnelle une robe serrée
des pommes délicieuses un serveur impoli

An adjective must agree in both gender and number with the noun it describes. This typically means adding an -e to an adjective that describes a feminine noun, an -s to nouns that are plural, and an -es to nouns that are both feminine and plural.

masculine singular feminine singular masculine plural feminine plural
un étudiant intelligent une étudiante intelligente des étudiants intelligents des étudiantes intelligentes

If an adjective already ends in the letter -e, there is no need to add another -e for a feminine noun. You do still need to add an -s to make it plural.

masculine singular feminine singular masculine plural feminine plural
un garçon timide une fille timide des garçons timides des filles timides

Masculine adjectives that end in -eux, -er, -c or -f change to -euse, -ère, -che or -ive when feminine. If a masculine adjective ends in a consonant like -l, -n, or -s, that consonant should be doubled and an -e added when feminine.

masculine singular feminine singular masculine plural feminine plural
généreux généreuse généreux généreuses
cher chère chers chères
franc franche francs franches
sportif sportive sportifs sportives
gentil gentille gentils gentilles
bon bonne bons bonnes
gros grosse gros grosses

ADJECTIVES THAT PRECEDE NOUNS

While most French adjectives are placed after the nouns they describe, there are some that are placed in front of the noun. You can memorize these adjectives by using the acronym BANGS.

un joli appartement une belle fille un jeune garçon une vieille television
deux chiens vingt élèves une bonne idée un mauvais restaurant
un grand bâtiment une petite maison un long trajet une longue histoire

ADJECTIVES THAT CHANGE MEANING

Some adjectives can be placed either before or after the noun they modify. This placement can change the meaning of the phrase, however. Generally, if the adjective is placed after the noun the meaning is more literal, while if it is placed before the meaning is more figurative.

ancien mon ancien professeur my old (former) professor mon professeur ancien my old (elderly) professor
cher un cher livre a dear book un livre cher an expensive book
curieux une curieuse femme a curious (strange) woman une femme curieuse a curious (nosy) woman
dernier la dernière semaine the last week (of the month, year) la semaine dernière last week (prior to this week)
différent des différentes idées various ideas une idée différente a different idea
drôle une drôle histoire a strange story une histoire drôle a funny store
gros un gros problème a big problem un chien gros a fat dog
nouveau un nouveau produit a new (alternative) product un produit nouveau a new (original) product
pauvre un pauvre homme a poor (pitiful) man un homme pauvre a poor (penniless) man
prochaine la prochaine semaine the following week la semaine prochaine next week

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

Some adjectives are irregular, and their various forms must simply be memorized.

Additionally, adjectives like beau, nouveau and vieux are spelled differently when they precede a masculine noun that begins with a vowel.

masculine singular masculine before a vowel masculine plural feminine singular feminine plural
beau bel beaux belle belles
nouveau nouvel nouveaux nouvelle nouvelles
vieux vieil vieux vieille vieilles

LES ADJECTIFS POSSESSIFS (POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES)

Possessive adjectives are what you use to express ideas such as “my mother” or “his pencil”.

In French, the possessive adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it precedes, not the gender to whom the noun belongs. For example, ma mère (“my mother”) will always use the feminine possessive adjective ma, because the word mère is feminine.

masculine singular feminine singular plural (masculine & feminine)
my mon ma mes
your ton ta tes
his/her son sa ses
our notre notre nos
your (plural, formal) votre votre vos
their leur leur leurs

If a noun begins with a vowel, you must use the masculine possessive adjective, even if the noun is feminine.

EX: mon ami (my male friend) mon amie (my female friend)

LES ADJECTIFS DÉMONSTRATIFS (DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES)

Demonstrative adjectives are used to specifically identify an item as “this” one or “that” one. They are used in place of articles, but they also must agree in gender and in number with the nouns they identify.

masculine singular feminine singular masculine before a vowel plural
ce cette cet ces

Ce tee-shirt est plus jolie que cette chemise.

Ces enfants sont vraiment pourris gâtés!

Je n’aime pas beaucoup cet appartement.

You can add -ci or -là to the end of a noun that uses a demonstrative adjective to differentiate between two of the same (or similar) nouns. They translate to “here” or “there” and which one you use depends on the proximity of the item to your body.

Préfères-tu ces sandales-ci ou ces sandales-là?
Do you prefer these sandals (here) or those ones (over there)?

Cette chaise-ci est plus confortable que cette chaise-là.
This chair (right here) is more comfortable than that chair (over there).

Je reste à cet hôtel-ci, pas cette maison-là.
I’m staying at this hotel (here), not that house (over there).