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Most common adjectives in French

125 words, from beginner to advanced. Tap a word to hear it.

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The meaning of French adjectives can depend on their position around the noun. Grand before a noun referring to a person can mean great; after it, the meaning is usually tall. Pauvre before a noun can express sympathy, while after it, it usually describes a lack of money.

Bon and Meilleur belong to the same comparison pattern: Meilleur is the comparative form of Bon, so it does not take an extra word meaning more. En bois and Sans intérêt describe nouns too, but they are fixed prepositional phrases and do not change for gender or number.

  1. Substantiel /sypstɑ̃ˈsjɛl/ Substantial C1Advanced#
  2. Certain /sɛʁˈtɛ̃/ Certain A2Intermediate#
  3. Ultérieur /ylteˈʁjœʁ/ Subsequent B2Advanced#
  4. Futile /fyˈtil/ Futile B2Advanced#
  5. Impraticable /ɛ̃pʁatiˈkabl/ Impracticable C1Advanced#
  6. Infructueux /ɛ̃fʁykˈtɥø/ Fruitless C1Advanced#
  7. Unilatéral /ynilateˈʁal/ One-sided C1Advanced#
  8. Vrai /ˈvʁɛ/ True A1Elementary#
  9. Disponible /dispɔˈnibl/ Available A2Intermediate#
  10. Éprouvant /epʁuˈvɑ̃/ Taxing B2Advanced#
  11. Occupé /ɔkyˈpe/ Busy A1Elementary#
  12. Seul /ˈsœl/ Alone A1Elementary#
  13. Bon /ˈbɔ̃/ Good A1Elementary#
  14. Génial /ʒeˈnjal/ Awesome A2Elementary#
  15. Beau /ˈbo/ Handsome A1Elementary#
  16. Grand /ˈɡʁɑ̃/ large A1Elementary#
  17. Petit /pəˈti/ Small A1Elementary#
  18. Nouveau /nuˈvo/ New A1Elementary#
  19. Vieux /ˈvjø/ Old A1Elementary#
  20. Jeune /ˈʒœn/ Young A1Elementary#
  21. Facile /faˈsil/ Easy A1Elementary#
  22. Difficile /difiˈsil/ Difficult A1Elementary#
  23. Chaud /ˈʃo/ Hot A1Elementary#
  24. Habituel /abiˈtɥɛl/ Usual A2Intermediate#
  25. Typique /tiˈpik/ Typical B1Intermediate#
  26. Évident /eviˈdɑ̃/ Obvious A2Intermediate#
  27. Passionnant /pasjɔˈnɑ̃/ Exciting B1Intermediate#
  28. Important /ɛ̃pɔʁˈtɑ̃/ Important A1Elementary#
  29. Complet /kɔ̃ˈplɛ/ Complete A2Elementary#
  30. Savoureux /savuˈʁø/ Tasty B1Intermediate#
  31. Prêt /ˈpʁɛ/ Ready A1Elementary#
  32. Doué /ˈdwe/ Gifted B1Intermediate#
  33. Bas /ˈbɑ/ Low A1Elementary#
  34. Haut /ˈo/ High A1Elementary#
  35. Faux /ˈfo/ Wrong A1Elementary#
  36. Épuisant /epɥiˈzɑ̃/ Exhausting B1Intermediate#
  37. Différent /difeˈʁɑ̃/ Different A1Elementary#
  38. Le même /lə ˈmɛm/ Same A2Elementary#
  39. Varié /vaˈʁje/ Various B1Intermediate#
  40. Peu probable /pø pʁɔˈbabl/ Unlikely B1Intermediate#
  41. Inutile /inyˈtil/ Useless A2Elementary#
  42. Utile /yˈtil/ Useful A1Elementary#
  43. Court /ˈkuʁ/ Short A1Elementary#
  44. Long /ˈlɔ̃/ Long A1Elementary#
  45. Lourd /ˈluʁ/ Heavy A2Elementary#
  46. Léger /leˈʒe/ Light A2Elementary#
  47. Proche /ˈpʁɔʃ/ Near A2Elementary#
  48. Simple /ˈsɛ̃pl/ Simple A1Elementary#
  49. Fort /ˈfɔʁ/ Strong A1Elementary#
  50. Dangereux /dɑ̃ʒəˈʁø/ Dangerous A2Elementary#
  51. Un autre /œ̃n ˈotʁ/ Another A1Elementary#
  52. Lent /ˈlɑ̃/ Slow A1Elementary#
  53. Rapide /ʁaˈpid/ Quick A1Elementary#
  54. Grossier /ɡʁoˈsje/ Churlish B1Intermediate#
  55. Pauvre /ˈpovʁ/ Poor A1Elementary#
  56. Riche /ˈʁiʃ/ Rich A1Elementary#
  57. Spécial /speˈsjal/ Special A2Elementary#
  58. Pointilleux /pwɛ̃tiˈjø/ Fussy C1Intermediate#
  59. Turbulent /tyʁbyˈlɑ̃/ Boisterous B2Intermediate#
  60. Sévère /seˈvɛʁ/ Harsh B1Intermediate#
  61. Paisible /pɛˈzibl/ Peaceful B1Intermediate#
  62. Mystérieux /misteˈʁjø/ Mysterious B1Intermediate#
  63. Maigre /ˈmɛɡʁ/ Skinny A2Intermediate#
  64. Possible /pɔˈsibl/ Possible A1Elementary#
  65. Étranger /etʁɑ̃ˈʒe/ Foreign A2Elementary#
  66. Moyen /mwaˈjɛ̃/ Average A2Elementary#
  67. Magnifique /maɲiˈfik/ Gorgeous A2Elementary#
  68. Meilleur /mɛˈjœʁ/ Best A1Elementary#
  69. Gros /ˈɡʁo/ Big A1Elementary#
  70. Dernier /dɛʁˈnje/ Last A1Elementary#
  71. Prochain /pʁɔˈʃɛ̃/ Next A1Elementary#
  72. Vide /ˈvid/ Empty A1Elementary#
  73. Droit /ˈdʁwa/ Straight A1Elementary#
  74. Correct /kɔˈʁɛkt/ Correct A2Elementary#
  75. Splendide /splɑ̃ˈdid/ Splendid B1Intermediate#
  76. Large /ˈlaʁʒ/ Wide A1Elementary#
  77. Exact /ɛɡˈzakt/ Accurate A2Intermediate#
  78. Principal /pʁɛ̃siˈpal/ Main A2Elementary#
  79. Privé /pʁiˈve/ Private A2Elementary#
  80. Tout le /tu ˈlə/ Whole A1Elementary#
  81. Avantageux /avɑ̃taˈʒø/ Advantageous B1Intermediate#
  82. Faisable /fəˈzabl/ Feasible B2Intermediate#
  83. Traditionnel /tʁadisjɔˈnɛl/ Traditional A2Elementary#
  84. Unique /yˈnik/ Unique A2Elementary#
  85. Direct /diˈʁɛkt/ Direct A2Elementary#
  86. Inaccessible /inaksɛˈsibl/ Unattainable B2Intermediate#
  87. Improbable /ɛ̃pʁɔˈbabl/ Improbable B2Intermediate#
  88. Final /fiˈnal/ Final A2Elementary#
  89. Récent /ʁeˈsɑ̃/ Recent A2Elementary#
  90. Entier /ɑ̃ˈtje/ Entire A2Elementary#
  91. Égal /eˈɡal/ Equal A2Elementary#
  92. Basique /baˈzik/ Basic B1Elementary#
  93. Central /sɑ̃ˈtʁal/ Central A2Elementary#
  94. Rond /ˈʁɔ̃/ Round A1Elementary#
  95. Avant /aˈvɑ̃/ Front A2Elementary#
  96. Humain /yˈmɛ̃/ Human A2Elementary#
  97. En bois /ɑ̃ ˈbwa/ Wooden A1Elementary#
  98. Commun /kɔˈmœ̃/ Common A2Elementary#
  99. Nocif /nɔˈsif/ Harmful B2Intermediate#
  100. Inévitable /ineviˈtabl/ Inevitable B2Intermediate#
  101. Ordinaire /ɔʁdiˈnɛʁ/ Ordinary B1Elementary#
  102. Étroit /eˈtʁwa/ Narrow B1Elementary#
  103. Fini /fiˈni/ Finished A1Elementary#
  104. Naturel /natyˈʁɛl/ Natural A2Elementary#
  105. Bruyant /bʁɥiˈjɑ̃/ Loud A2Elementary#
  106. Officiel /ɔfiˈsjɛl/ Official B1Intermediate#
  107. Sans intérêt /sɑ̃z‿ɛ̃teˈʁɛ/ Uninteresting A2Elementary#
  108. Vraisemblable /vʁɛsɑ̃ˈblabl/ Likely B2Intermediate#
  109. Vain /ˈvɛ̃/ Pointless B2Intermediate#
  110. Connu /kɔˈny/ Known A2Elementary#
  111. Vulnérable /vylneˈʁabl/ Vulnerable B2Intermediate#
  112. Célèbre /seˈlɛbʁ/ Famous A2Elementary#
  113. Négatif /negaˈtif/ Negative A2Elementary#
  114. Réel /ʁeˈɛl/ Real B1Elementary#
  115. Profond /pʁɔˈfɔ̃/ Deep B1Elementary#
  116. National /nasjɔˈnal/ National A2Elementary#
  117. Graduel /ɡʁaˈdɥɛl/ Gradual B2Intermediate#
  118. Courtois /kuʁˈtwa/ Courteous B2Intermediate#
  119. Au regard fixe /o ʁəɡaʁ ˈfiks/ Staring B2Intermediate#
  120. Graisseux /ɡʁɛˈsø/ Greasy B2Intermediate#
  121. Pétillant /petiˈjɑ̃/ Sparkling B2Intermediate#
  122. Impeccable /ɛ̃pɛˈkabl/ Spotless B1Intermediate#
  123. Minuscule /minysˈkyl/ Tiny B1Intermediate#
  124. Glorieux /ɡlɔˈʁjø/ Glorious B2Intermediate#
  125. Creux /ˈkʁø/ le pl. les creux Hollow B2Intermediate#

Rules to remember

  • Adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number. Petit and Grand normally add -e for the feminine and -s for the plural.
  • Facile and Difficile already end in -e, so their masculine and feminine forms are identical. They still add -s in the plural.
  • Beau and Nouveau usually precede the noun. Both have a masculine plural in -x and special masculine singular forms before a vowel or a silent h.

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