Les couleurs
This video is part of our free course beginners 1
| Masculine | Feminine | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jaune | Jaune | Yellow |
| Vert | Verte | Green |
| Rouge | Rouge | Red |
| Bleu | Bleue | Blue |
| Violet | Violette | Purple |
| Orange | Orange | Orange |
| Noir | Noire | Black |
| Marron | Marron | Brown |
| Rose | Rose | Pink |
| Blanc | Blanche | White |
| Gris | Grise | Grey |
| Beige | Beige | Beige |
Agreement rules
Feminine masculine
Colours are adjectives, so you must use the masculine form of the colour if the noun is masculine and its feminine form if it is feminine.
Une fleur violette A purple flower
Un téléphone noir A black telephone
Note
When the colour has no feminine form, we use the masculine for both masculine and feminine nouns.
Une fleur rose A pink flower
Un téléphone rose A pink telephone
Plural
To turn the masculine and feminine forms of the colours into the plural, simply add a silent “s” at the end of the colour.
Des arbres verts Green trees
Des pommes vertes Green apples
Note
“Des” means “some.”
Note
Some colours are invariable and will not change in the plural or in the feminine form, like “marron” or “orange.” There are more colours following this rule, mainly when the colours are coming from fruits or others and exist as a noun.
Des chaussures marron Brown shoes
Position in a sentence
Colours, like many other French adjectives, usually go after the noun they qualify; which is the opposite of the English rule.
Une table blanche A white table
Simple tones
Tones can be added to the colour. In a sentence, the colour goes before the tone; which is the opposite of the English rule.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Foncé | Dark |
| Clair | Light |
Vert foncé Dark green
Orange clair Light orange
Note
When you use a colour and a tone together, they must be in the singular masculine form even if the noun they qualify is feminine or plural.
Une robe vert foncé A dark green dress
Des chaussures bleu clair Light blue shoes
Note
When a colour, a tone, and a noun are used together, the noun goes first, followed by the colour and the tone.
Une fleur rouge clairA light red flower
