Languages › French Fickle French Adjectives Share Flipboard Email Print French Grammar Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Updated 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.Here are the most common "fickle" French adjectives. Fickle French Adjectives ancienFigurative 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 bonFigurative or subjective meaningune bonne réputation - a good reputationLiteral or objective meaningun homme bon - a good (charitable) man braveFigurative 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 cherFigurative or subjective meaningun cher ami - a dear friendLiteral or objective meaningun pull cher - an expensive sweater chicFigurative or subjective meaningune chic fille - a nice, decent girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille chic - a classy girl curieuxFigurative or subjective meaningun curieux homme - a curious (strange) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme curieux - a curious (nosy) man dernierFigurative or subjective meaningla dernière semaine - the last week (of the year)Literal or objective meaningla semaine dernière - last week (the one before this one) différentFigurative or subjective meaningdifférentes idées - various ideasLiteral or objective meaningune idée différente - different idea diversFigurative or subjective meaningdivers étudiants - various, several studentsLiteral or objective meaningdes étudiants divers - varied, diverse students douxFigurative or subjective meaningune douce musique* - sweet musicun doux parfum* - sweet perfumeLiteral or objective meaningla moutarde douce - sweet mustard la peau douce - soft skin drôleFigurative or subjective meaningun drôle d'idée - strange ideaLiteral or objective meaningune histoire drôle - funny story faibleFigurative or subjective meaningune faible chance - weak, poor, slight chanceLiteral or objective meaningun homme faible - a weak man fameuxFigurative or subjective meaningun fameux problème - a heck of a problemLiteral or objective meaningun vin fameux - first-rate wine francFigurative or subjective meaningun franc imbécile - total idiotLiteral or objective meaningune différence franche - clear difference grandFigurative or subjective meaningun grand homme - a great manLiteral or objective meaningun homme grand - a tall man grosFigurative or subjective meaningun gros problème - big problemLiteral or objective meaningun homme gros - fat man honnêteFigurative or subjective meaningun honnête homme** - a gentlemanLiteral or objective meaningun homme honnête - an honest man jeuneFigurative 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 maigreFigurative or subjective meaningun maigre repas - skimpy, meager mealLiteral or objective meaningun garçon maigre - skinny boy méchantFigurative or subjective meaningun méchant cigare - great big cigarLiteral or objective meaningun homme méchant - mean (cruel) man mêmeFigurative or subjective meaningle même jour - the same dayLiteral or objective meaningle jour même - the very day modesteFigurative or subjective meaningun modeste repas - small, simple mealLiteral or objective meaningun homme modeste - modest, humble man nobleFigurative or subjective meaningnobles aspirations - noble, worthy aspirationsLiteral or objective meaningune femme noble - imposing, respected woman nouveauFigurative or subjective meaningun nouveau produit - a new, alternative productLiteral or objective meaningun produit nouveau - a new, original product pauvreFigurative or subjective meaningun pauvre homme - a poor (pitiful) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme pauvre - a poor (penniless) man platFigurative or subjective meaningune plate excuse - a humble excuseLiteral or objective meaningun pays plat - a flat country premierFigurative or subjective meaningle premier problème - first problemLiteral or objective meaningle problème premier - fundamental, basic problem prochainFigurative or subjective meaningla prochaine semaine - the following weekLiteral or objective meaningla semaine prochaine - next week propreFigurative or subjective meaningma propre chambre - my own bedroomLiteral or objective meaningune chambre propre - a clean bedroom pureFigurative or subjective meaningla pure imagination - pure, total imaginationLiteral or objective meaningl'eau pure - pure water rareFigurative or subjective meaningd'une rare beauté - exceptionally beautifulLiteral or objective meaningun oiseau rare - rare bird rudeFigurative or subjective meaningune rude tâche - difficult taskLiteral or objective meaningune barbe rude - rough beard sacréFigurative or subjective meaningun sacré menteur - a damn liarLiteral or objective meaningun objet sacré - a sacred object saleFigurative or subjective meaningune sale ville - a nasty townLiteral or objective meaningune ville sale - a dirty town seulFigurative or subjective meaningla seule fille - the one/single/only girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille seule - lonely girl, a girl who is alone simpleFigurative or subjective meaningun simple homme - a mere (plain, ordinary) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme simple - a modest, honest man tristeFigurative or subjective meaningun triste individu - a sad (mean, bad) personLiteral or objective meaningun individu triste - a sad (crying) person uniqueFigurative or subjective meaningun unique fils - an only sonLiteral or objective meaningun fils unique - only child (who is a boy) véritableFigurative or subjective meaningun véritable problème - serious problemLiteral or objective meaningun problème véritable - genuine (not fake) problem vertFigurative or subjective meaningmes vertes années - my green (fruitful) yearsLiteral or objective meaninglégumes verts - green vegetables vilainFigurative or subjective meaningvilains mots - bad wordsLiteral or objective meaningun garçon vilain - ugly or naughty child vraiFigurative 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 ThoughtCo. "Fickle French Adjectives." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793. ThoughtCo. (2021, February 16). Fickle French Adjectives. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793 ThoughtCo. "Fickle French Adjectives." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/fickle-french-adjectives-1368793 (accessed May 10, 2021). copy citation