How do I agree colors as adjectives in French?

Understanding Gender and Number in French Adjectives

In French, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This rule applies to most adjectives, including colors. The basic structure is:

• Masculine singular: No change to the base form.
• Feminine singular: Usually add “e” to the base form.
• Masculine plural: Usually add “s” to the base form.
• Feminine plural: Usually add “es” to the base form.

How to Agree Common Color Adjectives

Let’s look at some of the most common color adjectives and see how they change:

• Vert (green):
• Masculine singular: vert
• Feminine singular: verte
• Masculine plural: verts
• Feminine plural: vertes
• Noir (black):
• Masculine singular: noir
• Feminine singular: noire
• Masculine plural: noirs
• Feminine plural: noires
• Blanc (white):
• Masculine singular: blanc
• Feminine singular: blanche
• Masculine plural: blancs
• Feminine plural: blanches

Examples in Sentences

• Un chat noir (A black cat – masculine singular)
• Une robe verte (A green dress – feminine singular)
• Des chapeaux blancs (White hats – masculine plural)
• Des maisonnes noires (Black houses – feminine plural)

Exceptions: Invariable Color Adjectives

Not all color adjectives change according to gender and number. Some colors are invariable, meaning they remain the same no matter the gender or number of the noun. These are usually colors derived from nouns (such as animals, plants, or minerals), or compound colors (like blue-green).

• Orange (orange): invariable
• Marron (brown): invariable
• Turquoise (turquoise): invariable
• Bleu clair (light blue): invariable

Examples:

• Un pull orange (An orange sweater)
• Des chaussures marron (Brown shoes)

Even in plural or feminine forms, these adjectives do not change:

• Des robes orange (Orange dresses)
• Des chapeaux marron (Brown hats)

Compound Color Adjectives

Compound color adjectives are made up of two words (e.g., “bleu clair” – light blue, “vert foncé” – dark green). These adjectives are also invariable, so they never agree with the noun in gender or number.

Examples:

• Des yeux bleu clair (Light blue eyes)
• Des voitures vert foncé (Dark green cars)

Colors Used as Nouns

Sometimes, color words are used as nouns in French. In these cases, they are always masculine:

• Le bleu de la mer (The blue of the sea)
• Un rouge profond (A deep red)

Special Cases and Irregular Forms

There are a few color adjectives with unique agreements:

• Blanc becomes blanche in the feminine form, as seen above.
• Violet (purple) becomes violette (feminine), violets (masculine plural), and violettes (feminine plural).
• Fauve (tawny) is variable: fauve, fauve, fauves, fauves.

Quick Reference Table for Color Agreement

Tips for Mastering Color Agreement in French

• Always ask yourself if the color is a regular adjective, invariable, or compound.
• Remember that most invariable colors are derived from nouns (like “marron” from “chestnut”).
• Practice by describing objects around you, changing the gender and number to reinforce learning.
• Use language learning tools like Talkpal to practice with interactive exercises and quizzes.

Conclusion

Mastering the agreement of color adjectives is a key step in sounding natural and fluent in French. By paying attention to the rules, practicing regularly, and using resources like the Talkpal AI language learning blog, you’ll soon be able to describe the world around you in vivid and accurate French. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—each one is a step closer to mastering this beautiful language. Happy learning!