Languages › French Fickle French Adjectives Share Flipboard Email Print French Grammar Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on May 21, 2019 Most French adjectives must be placed after the noun they modify, except for the BAGS exceptions (learn more). There are also a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on where they are placed. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning. Fickle French Adjectives Following are the most common "fickle" French adjectives. Ancien Figurative or subjective meaningmon ancienne école - my old (former) schoolun ancien château - an old château (now a hotel)Literal or objective meaningmon école ancienne - my old (aged) schoolun château ancien - an ancient château Bon Figurative or subjective meaningune bonne réputation - a good reputationLiteral or objective meaningun homme bon - a good (charitable) man Brave Figurative or subjective meaningun brave homme - a good (decent) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme brave - a brave man Certain Figurative or subjective meaningun certain regard - a certain (type of) lookun certain âge - old age (euphemism)Literal or objective meaningune victoire certaine - a certain (assured) victoryun âge certain - old age (rude)Word play: Certain âge et âge certain Cher Figurative or subjective meaningun cher ami - a dear friendLiteral or objective meaningun pull cher - an expensive sweater Chic Figurative or subjective meaningune chic fille - a nice, decent girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille chic - a classy girl Curieux Figurative or subjective meaningun curieux homme - a curious (strange) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme curieux - a curious (nosy) man Dernier Figurative or subjective meaningla dernière semaine - the last week (of the year)Literal or objective meaningla semaine dernière - last week (the one before this one) Différent Figurative or subjective meaningdifférentes idées - various ideasLiteral or objective meaningune idée différente - different idea Divers Figurative or subjective meaningdivers étudiants - various, several studentsLiteral or objective meaningdes étudiants divers - varied, diverse students Doux Figurative or subjective meaningune douce musique* - sweet musicun doux parfum* - sweet perfumeLiteral or objective meaningla moutarde douce - sweet mustard la peau douce - soft skin Drôle Figurative or subjective meaningun drôle d'idée - strange ideaLiteral or objective meaningune histoire drôle - funny story Faible Figurative or subjective meaningune faible chance - weak, poor, slight chanceLiteral or objective meaningun homme faible - a weak man Fameux Figurative or subjective meaningun fameux problème - a heck of a problemLiteral or objective meaningun vin fameux - first-rate wine Franc Figurative or subjective meaningun franc imbécile - total idiotLiteral or objective meaningune différence franche - clear difference Grand Figurative or subjective meaningun grand homme - a great manLiteral or objective meaningun homme grand - a tall man Gros Figurative or subjective meaningun gros problème - big problemLiteral or objective meaningun homme gros - fat man Honnête Figurative or subjective meaningun honnête homme** - a gentlemanLiteral or objective meaningun homme honnête - an honest man Jeune Figurative or subjective meaningune jeune femme - a young womanLiteral or objective meaningune femme jeune - youthful woman *For this meaning, the adjective can precede or follow the noun **Somewhat archaic Maigre Figurative or subjective meaningun maigre repas - skimpy, meager mealLiteral or objective meaningun garçon maigre - skinny boy Méchant Figurative or subjective meaningun méchant cigare - great big cigarLiteral or objective meaningun homme méchant - mean (cruel) man Même Figurative or subjective meaningle même jour - the same dayLiteral or objective meaningle jour même - the very day Modeste Figurative or subjective meaningun modeste repas - small, simple mealLiteral or objective meaningun homme modeste - modest, humble man Noble Figurative or subjective meaningnobles aspirations - noble, worthy aspirationsLiteral or objective meaningune femme noble - imposing, respected woman Nouveau Figurative or subjective meaningun nouveau produit - a new, alternative productLiteral or objective meaningun produit nouveau - a new, original product Pauvre Figurative or subjective meaningun pauvre homme - a poor (pitiful) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme pauvre - a poor (penniless) man Plat Figurative or subjective meaningune plate excuse - a humble excuseLiteral or objective meaningun pays plat - a flat country Premier Figurative or subjective meaningle premier problème - first problemLiteral or objective meaningle problème premier - fundamental, basic problem Prochain Figurative or subjective meaningla prochaine semaine - the following weekLiteral or objective meaningla semaine prochaine - next week Proper Figurative or subjective meaningma propre chambre - my own bedroomLiteral or objective meaningune chambre propre - a clean bedroom Pure Figurative or subjective meaningla pure imagination - pure, total imaginationLiteral or objective meaningl'eau pure - pure water Rare Figurative or subjective meaningd'une rare beauté - exceptionally beautifulLiteral or objective meaningun oiseau rare - rare bird Rude Figurative or subjective meaningune rude tâche - difficult taskLiteral or objective meaningune barbe rude - rough beard Sacré Figurative or subjective meaningun sacré menteur - a damn liarLiteral or objective meaningun objet sacré - a sacred object Sale Figurative or subjective meaningune sale ville - a nasty townLiteral or objective meaningune ville sale - a dirty town Seul Figurative or subjective meaningla seule fille - the one/single/only girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille seule - lonely girl, a girl who is alone Simple Figurative or subjective meaningun simple homme - a mere (plain, ordinary) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme simple - a modest, honest man Triste Figurative or subjective meaningun triste individu - a sad (mean, bad) personLiteral or objective meaningun individu triste - a sad (crying) person Unique Figurative or subjective meaningun unique fils - an only sonLiteral or objective meaningun fils unique - only child (who is a boy) Véritable Figurative or subjective meaningun véritable problème - serious problemLiteral or objective meaningun problème véritable - genuine (not fake) problem Vert Figurative or subjective meaningmes vertes années - my green (fruitful) yearsLiteral or objective meaninglégumes verts - green vegetables Vilain Figurative or subjective meaningvilains mots - bad wordsLiteral or objective meaningun garçon vilain - ugly or naughty child Vrai Figurative or subjective meaningun vrai ami - a real, true friendLiteral or objective meaningune histoire vraie - true story Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "Fickle French Adjectives." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). Fickle French Adjectives. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793 Team, ThoughtCo. "Fickle French Adjectives." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793 (accessed July 4, 2022). copy citation