Odd Transformations
The feminine forms of some adjectives are based on an archaic masculine form.
This archaic masculine form is still used before masculine nouns that begin
with a vowel or silent 'h'.
 |
| Masculine |
beau |
nouveau |
vieux |
fou |
mou |
| Archaic Masculine |
bel |
nouvel |
vieil |
fol |
mol |
| Feminine |
belle |
nouvelle |
vieille |
folle |
molle |
| |
beautiful |
new |
old |
crazy |
soft |
|
practice
Normally, adjectives ending in -x replace the -x
with -se to form the feminine.
|
| Masculine |
Feminine |
|
| amoureux |
amoureuse |
in love |
| courageux |
courageuse |
courageous |
| curieux |
curieuse |
curious |
| ennuyeux |
ennuyeuse |
boring |
| furieux |
furieuse |
furious |
| heureux |
heureuse |
happy |
| jaloux |
jalouse |
jealous |
| merveilleux |
merveilleuse |
marvelous |
| peureux |
peureuse |
fearful |
| sérieux |
sérieuse |
serious |
|
|
| Masculine |
Feminine |
|
| actif` |
active |
active |
| bref |
brève |
brief |
| destructif |
destructive |
destructive |
| neuf |
neuve |
new |
| vif |
vive |
alive, bright |
| doux |
douce |
soft |
| roux |
rousse |
reddish-brown |
| faux |
fausse |
false, wrong |
|
|
| Masculine |
Feminine |
|
| aigu |
aiguë |
sharp, high-pitched |
| blanc |
blanche |
white |
| favori |
favorite |
favorite |
| frais |
fraîche |
fresh |
| franc |
franche |
frank, candid |
| grec |
grecque |
greek |
| long |
longue |
long |
| public |
publique |
public |
| sec |
sèche |
dry |
| turc |
turque |
turkish |
|
The
-eur ending masculine adjectives are an odd lot. They follow
three different patterns.
- The following -eur ending adjectives follow the regular pattern:
| |
| antérieur |
antérieure |
anterior |
| postérieur |
postérieure |
posterior |
| extérieur |
extérieure |
exterior |
| intérieur |
intérieure |
interior |
| inférieur |
inférieure |
inferior |
| supérieur |
supérieure |
superior |
| majeur |
majeure |
major |
| mineur |
mineure |
minor |
| meilleur |
meilleure |
better |
|
- When an -eur ending adjective is derived from a verb, it ends with
-euse.
| |
| Root Verbs |
Masculine |
Feminine |
|
| flatter |
flatteur |
flatteuse |
flattering |
| mentir |
menteur |
menteuse |
lying, deceptive |
| moqueur |
moqueur |
moqueuse |
mocking |
| tromper |
trompeur |
trompeuse |
deceitful |
|
- When an adjective ends in -teur, the feminine ending is -trice.
|
| acteur |
actrice |
acting |
| conservateur |
conservatrice |
conservative |
| créateur |
créatrice |
creative |
| protecteur |
protectrice |
protective |
|
practice