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Invariable French Adjectives ~ Adjectifs invariables

French colors may be invariable adjectives

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com

In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun. These are called invariable adjectives.

French color adjectives derived from nouns, such as animals, flowers, fruits, gems, and metals, are usually invariable:
    amarante     amaranthine (dark purple-red)
    ardoise     slate-grey
    argent     silver
    aubergine     eggplant
    auburn     auburn
    brique     brick-red
    canari     canary yellow
    caramel     caramel-colored
    carmin     carmine
    cerise     cherry red
    chair     flesh-colored
    champagne     champagne
    chocolat     chocolate-brown
    citron     lemon-yellow
    crème     cream-colored
    emeraude     emerald green
    grenat     garnet
    indigo     indigo
    kaki     khaki
    lavande     lavender
    lilas     lilac
    marine     navy blue
    marron     brown
    noisette     hazel
    ocre     ochre
    olive     olive-green
    or     gold
    orange     orange
    pastel     pastel
    pervenche     periwinkle
    pie     (magpie) - piebald, black and white
    pistache     pistachio-green
    platine     platinum
    prune     plum
    puce     (flea) - puce
    rouille     rust-colored
    rubis     ruby red
    sable     sandy, sand-colored
    safran     saffron-colored
    saphir     sapphire-blue
    saumon     salmon-pink
    tabac     tobacco brown
    turquoise     turquoise
    vermillon     vermilion
Exceptions:

1) alezan (chestnut), fauve (tawny/fawn), incarnat (rosy), mauve, pourpre (crimson), rose (pink), and violet are variable according to the normal rules of agreement

2) châtain (chestnut brown) is semi-invariable - it usually agrees in number, but rarely in gender


Multiple Colors

When two or more colors describe a noun, they may or may not agree:

1) If there are items of each individual color, the adjectives agree
    des drapeaux bleus, blancs, rouges - red, white, and blue flags
    (some are red, some are white, and some are blue)

    des chapeaux rouges et noirs - red and black hats
    (some are red and some are black)
2) If each item has all of the colors, the adjectives are invariable
    des drapeaux bleu, blanc, rouge - red, white, and blue flags (e.g., French flags)

    des chapeaux rouge et noir - red and black hats
This is one instance where agreement is useful, because it gives you more detail than what is available in the English translation.


Compound Colors

When adjectives of color are modified by another adjective or a noun, the adjectives are invariable:
    une jupe gris clair     light gray skirt

    des gants violet foncé     dark purple gloves

    une couleur rouge-orange     reddish-orange color

    des yeux bleu-vert     blue-green eyes

    une voiture vert pomme     apple-green car

    des fleurs rouge tomate     tomato-red flowers

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