Les Couleurs (Colors)
Name colors in French and make them agree with nouns. Learn invariable colors (marron, orange) vs. regular ones. Describe objects and clothing.
A lesson of French A1 — Beginner, in Everyday Vocabulary, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will name colors in French, make them agree with nouns in gender and number, and describe objects and clothing.
The Color Vocabulary
| French | English | Masc. sg. | Fem. sg. | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | red | rouge | rouge | rouges |
| bleu | blue | bleu | bleue | bleus/bleues |
| vert | green | vert | verte | verts/vertes |
| jaune | yellow | jaune | jaune | jaunes |
| orange | orange | orange | orange | orange (invariable) |
| blanc | white | blanc | blanche | blancs/blanches |
| noir | black | noir | noire | noirs/noires |
| gris | gray | gris | grise | gris/grises |
| rose | pink | rose | rose | roses |
| violet | purple | violet | violette | violets/violettes |
| marron | brown | marron | marron | marron (invariable) |
| beige | beige | beige | beige | beiges |
Agreement Rules
Color adjectives agree with nouns like other adjectives. But some colors are invariable — they never change.
Regular color agreement
un chat noir — a black cat (masc. sg.) une robe noire — a black dress (fem. sg.) des chats noirs — black cats (masc. pl.) des robes noires — black dresses (fem. pl.)
Invariable colors: no change at all
Three colors borrowed from nouns are invariable — they never take agreements:
- orange (from the fruit): des robes orange (never )