Invariable French Adjectives ~ Adjectifs invariables

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