Adjectives usually go AFTER nouns in French (Position of Adjectives)

Take the fastest path to fluent French

Adjectives, or 'describing words', are usually placed in French AFTER the noun they qualify, unlike in English.

Position of adjectives in French

Here is a list of categories of adjectives that follow that rule:

1. Colours

Un masque vertA green mask

la maison bleue the blue house

la balle rougeThe red ball

 

2. Classification adjectives that put objects in a distinctive category (shape, component...)

la boîte rondethe round box

un insecte amphibienan amphibian insect

un animal sauvage contre un animal apprivoiséa wild animal against a domesticated animal

le câble électriquethe electric cable

 

3. Adjectives derived from a proper noun (Person, Country, City, Religion...) 

un sonnet shakespeariena Shakespearian sonnet

une chanteuse russea Russian singer

un pays musulmana Muslim country

le brouillard londonienthe London fog

un chapeau texana Texan hat

Note that these adjectives are not capitalised in French.

 

4. Adjectives followed by a complement (à, de, pour, comme...)

un exercice facile à fairean easy-to-do exercise

une fille jolie comme un cœura pretty girl
 (lit. a girl pretty like a heart)

une barrière haute de deux mètresa 2-metre-high fence

une casserole bonne pour la poubellea saucepan fit for the bin
 

5. Adjectives modified by adverbs with 2 or more syllables

une rumeur complètement faussea completely false rumor

une fille vraiment gentillea really nice girl

un paysage incroyablement beauan incredibly beautiful landscape

-> Compare these examples with the following counter-example containing a one-syllable adverb:

un très joli manteaua very pretty coat

 

As always, there are exceptions to this rule, some adjectives are placed BEFORE the noun:

Position of French Adjectives - Short and common adjectives that go BEFORE nouns

Position of French Adjectives - More adjectives that go BEFORE nouns

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

la balle rougeThe red ball
la maison bleue the blue house
Un masque vertA green mask
Le disque jaune.The amber light.
un pays musulmana Muslim country
le brouillard londonienthe London fog
une situation kafkaïennea Kafkaesque situation
une casserole bonne pour la poubellea saucepan fit for the bin
un chapeau pointua pointy hat
une barrière haute de deux mètresa 2-metre-high fence
le câble électriquethe electric cable
une fille jolie comme un cœura pretty girl
 (lit. a girl pretty like a heart)
un animal sauvage contre un animal apprivoiséa wild animal against a domesticated animal
un exercice facile à fairean easy-to-do exercise
la boîte rondethe round box
un insecte amphibienan amphibian insect
une rumeur complètement faussea completely false rumor
une fille vraiment gentillea really nice girl
un chapeau texana Texan hat
un paysage incroyablement beauan incredibly beautiful landscape
un sonnet shakespeariena Shakespearian sonnet
un très joli manteaua very pretty coat
une chanteuse russea Russian singer
un cauchemar orwellienan Orwellian nightmare
Clever stuff happening!