Adjectives ending in -er become -ère in the feminine in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2023-10-04
Add to Notebook39 questions

In French, adjectives ending in -er have a specific feminine form. 

Learn how to make the feminine form of adjectives ending in -er in French

Look at these adjectives:

J'ai acheté un sac cher et une robe chère.I bought an expensive bag and an expensive dress.

Je prends le dernier train avec ma dernière valise.I'm taking the last train with my last suitcase.

Cher Matt, chère Kate, vous me manquez.Dear Matt, dear Kate, I miss you.

Je parle une langue étrangère dans un pays étranger.I speak a foreign language in a foreign country.



Note that adjectives ending in -er in the masculine form change to -ère in the feminine form.

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 Braimap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Le premier jour de la première semaine, j'étais fatigué.On the first day of the first week, I was tired.
Elle portait un manteau léger et une jupe légère.She wore a light coat and a light skirt.
J'ai acheté un sac cher et une robe chère.I bought an expensive bag and an expensive dress.
Cher Matt, chère Kate, vous me manquez.Dear Matt, dear Kate, I miss you.
Je prends le dernier train avec ma dernière valise.I'm taking the last train with my last suitcase.
Je parle une langue étrangère dans un pays étranger.I speak a foreign language in a foreign country.
Clever stuff happening!