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

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