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

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

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Examples and resources

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