Adjectives: Formation ofFeminine
Alladjectives must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify.Most adjectives are given in the masculine form, so to change to thefeminine forms, follow these rules:
|
Masculine |
Feminine |
Adjective |
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|
Add -e |
brun |
brahn |
brune |
brunn |
brown |
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|
fatigué |
fah-tee-gay |
fatiguée |
fah-tee-gay |
tired |
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If it already ends in -e, add nothing |
jeune |
zhun |
jeune |
zhun |
young |
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|
-x changes to -se |
généreux |
zhay-nay-ruh |
généreuse |
zhay-nay-ruhs |
generous |
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|
Exceptions: |
faux |
foh |
fausse |
fohss |
false |
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|
roux |
roo |
rousse |
rooss |
red (hair) |
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|
doux |
doo |
douce |
dooss |
sweet, soft |
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|
-il, -el, and -eil change to -ille, -elle, and -eille |
naturel |
naht-ur-ell |
naturelle |
naht-ur-ell |
natural |
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|
-et changes to -ète |
inquiet |
ahn-kee-ay |
inquiète |
ahn-kee-ett |
worried |
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|
Exceptions: |
muet |
moo-ay |
muette |
moo-ett |
silent |
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|
coquet |
koh-kay |
coquette |
koh-kett |
stylish |
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|
-en and -on change to -enneand -onne |
Italien |
ee-tahl-ee-ahn |
Italienne |
ee-tahl-ee-enn |
Italian |
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|
-er changes to -ère |
cher |
share |
chère |
share |
dear, expensive |
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|
-f changes to -ve |
actif |
ac-teef |
active |
ac-teev |
active |
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|
-c changes to -che |
blanc |
blawn |
blanche |
blawnsh |
white |
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|
Exceptions: |
public |
pooh-bleek |
publique |
pooh-bleek |
public |
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|
grec |
grek |
grecque |
grek |
Greek |
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|
-g changes to -gue |
long |
lawn |
longue |
lawng |
long |
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|
-eur changes to -euse if adjectiveis derived from verb |
menteur |
mawn-tur |
menteuse |
mawn-tuhz |
liar |
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|
-eur changes to -rice if adjectiveis not same as verb |
créateur |
kray-ah-tur |
créatrice |
kray-ah-treess |
creator |
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|
-eur changes to -eure withadjectives of comparison |
inférieur |
ahn-fay-ree-uhr |
inférieure |
ahn-fay-ree-uhr |
inferior |
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|
And a few completely irregular ones: |
épais |
ay-peh |
épaisse |
ay-pehz |
thick |
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|
favori |
fah-voh-ree |
favorite |
fah-voh-reet |
favorite |
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|
frais |
freh |
fraîche |
frehsh |
fresh, cool |
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