Adjectives of Color: the Basics
Rule 1: Most adjectives of color in French act like regular adjectives and agree with the noun based on number and gender.
French
English
Une fleur bleue.
A blue flower.
Exception: However, colors based on the names of fruit, flowers, precious stones, metals, and other elements of nature do not change form. These adjectives are called invariables, or adjectifs invariables.
French
English
Le t-shirt marron, la robe marron et les chaussures marron.
The brown t-shirt, the brown dress, and the brown shoes.
The same exception applies in the case of compound colors.
French
English
Les portes bleu foncé.
Dark blue doors.
What to Do When In Doubt?
If you don't know whether an adjective of color has to agree with the noun it modifies or not, you can always check a French dictionary. There, you will find its feminine, masculine, and plural forms - or the information that this is an adjectif invariable.
To make your life easier, here's a list of several common invariables.
| abricot | apricot |
| ambre | amber |
| avocat | avocado |
| brique | brick red |
| bronze | bronze |
| chocolat | chocolate brown |
| fuschia | fuschia |
| lavande | lavender |
| marron | brown (horse chestnut) |
| noisette | hazelnut |
| orange | orange |
| turquoise | turquoise |
| abricot | apricot |
| ambre | amber |
| avocat | avocado |
| brique | brick red |
| bronze | bronze |
| chocolat | chocolate brown |
| fuschia | fuschia |
| lavande | lavender |
| marron | brown (horse chestnut) |
| noisette | hazelnut |
| orange | orange |
| turquoise | turquoise |
Quiz
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Un cheveu ___
0
correct answers.