Fickle French Adjectives

maigre
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un maigre repas - skimpy, meager meal
Literal or objective meaning
   un garçon maigre - skinny boy

méchant
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un méchant cigare - great big cigar
Literal or objective meaning
   un homme méchant - mean (cruel) man

même
Figurative or subjective meaning
   le même jour - the same day
Literal or objective meaning
   le jour même - the very day

modeste
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un modeste repas - small, simple meal
Literal or objective meaning
   un homme modeste - modest, humble man

noble
Figurative or subjective meaning
   nobles aspirations - noble, worthy aspirations
Literal or objective meaning
   une femme noble - imposing, respected woman

nouveau
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un nouveau produit - a new, alternative product
Literal or objective meaning
   un produit nouveau - a new, original product

pauvre
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un pauvre homme - a poor (pitiful) man
Literal or objective meaning
   un homme pauvre - a poor (penniless) man

plat
Figurative or subjective meaning
   une plate excuse - a humble excuse
Literal or objective meaning
   un pays plat - a flat country

premier
Figurative or subjective meaning
   le premier problème - first problem
Literal or objective meaning
   le problème premier - fundamental, basic problem

prochain
Figurative or subjective meaning
   la prochaine semaine - the following week
Literal or objective meaning
   la semaine prochaine - next week

propre
Figurative or subjective meaning
   ma propre chambre - my own bedroom
Literal or objective meaning
   une chambre propre - a clean bedroom

pure
Figurative or subjective meaning
   la pure imagination - pure, total imagination
Literal or objective meaning
   l'eau pure - pure water

rare
Figurative or subjective meaning
   d'une rare beauté - exceptionally beautiful
Literal or objective meaning
   un oiseau rare - rare bird

rude
Figurative or subjective meaning
   une rude tâche - difficult task
Literal or objective meaning
   une barbe rude - rough beard

sacré
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un sacré menteur - a damn liar
Literal or objective meaning
   un objet sacré - a sacred object

sale
Figurative or subjective meaning
   une sale ville - a nasty town
Literal or objective meaning
   une ville sale - a dirty town

seul
Figurative or subjective meaning
   la seule fille - the one/single/only girl
Literal or objective meaning
   une fille seule - lonely girl, a girl who is alone

simple
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un simple homme - a mere (plain, ordinary) man
Literal or objective meaning
   un homme simple - a modest, honest man

triste
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un triste individu - a sad (mean, bad) person
Literal or objective meaning
   un individu triste - a sad (crying) person

unique
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un unique fils - an only son
Literal or objective meaning
   un fils unique - only child (who is a boy)

véritable
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un véritable problème - serious problem
Literal or objective meaning
   un problème véritable - genuine (not fake) problem

vert
Figurative or subjective meaning
   mes vertes années - my green (fruitful) years
Literal or objective meaning
   légumes verts - green vegetables

vilain
Figurative or subjective meaning
   vilains mots - bad words
Literal or objective meaning
   un garçon vilain - ugly or naughty child

vrai
Figurative or subjective meaning
   un vrai ami - a real, true friend
Literal or objective meaning
   une histoire vraie - true story


Quiz on fickle French adjectives


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