French Colors Chart
Explore all French colors with hex swatches, masculine/feminine agreement forms, plurals, example sentences, and audio pronunciation.
Masculine Singular
Feminine Singular
Masculine Plural
Feminine Plural
Agreement & Grammar Rule
Example Sentences
Click any color card above to view full gender agreement rules, plural forms, and audio pronunciation.
Mastering French Color Agreement Rules
1. Standard Colors (Variable)
Most adjectives of color agree in gender (+e) and number (+s) with the noun they describe:
un ballon vert (m.s.)
une pomme verte (f.s.)
des ballons verts (m.p.)
des pommes vertes (f.p.)
2. Derived Nouns (Invariable)
Colors derived from objects, fruits, or gemstones (like marron, orange, noisette, cerise) never change for gender or plural:
des chaussures marron (never marrons)
des robes orange (never oranges)
3. Compound Colors (Invariable)
When a color has two words (light/dark or compound colors), the entire phrase is strictly invariable:
des yeux bleu clair (light blue)
des chemises vert foncé (dark green)
Why French Color Adjectives Are Tricky
In French, colors are treated as adjectives and almost always follow the noun they modify (e.g., une voiture rouge, not une rouge voiture). Because French nouns possess grammatical gender (masculine or feminine), color adjectives must match the noun in both gender and quantity.
Colors Ending in Mute -E
Colors whose masculine singular form already ends in an unaccented -e (such as rouge, jaune, rose, orange, mauve) do not add an extra -e in the feminine form. Their masculine and feminine singular spellings are identical.
Irregular Feminine Endings
Some of the most essential colors have irregular feminine spellings that must be memorized:
- Blanc → Blanche (White)
- Frais → Fraîche (Fresh)
- Violet → Violette (Purple/Violet)
- Fauve → Fauve (Tawny)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't "marron" or "orange" add an "s" in the plural?
In French grammar, colors named after real-world objects (chestnuts = marron, fruits = orange, hazelnut = noisette) are invariable nouns used as adjectives. Because they remain nouns at heart, they do not change for masculine/feminine or singular/plural.
Where do color adjectives go in a French sentence?
Color adjectives in French almost always go after the noun they describe. For example: un chat noir (a black cat) or une chemise verte (a green shirt). Putting a color adjective before the noun is grammatically incorrect in modern French.
How do compound colors (like "light blue" or "dark green") work in French?
When two words form a single color description (e.g. bleu clair = light blue, vert foncé = dark green, bleu marine = navy blue), the entire compound phrase becomes completely invariable. Example: des robes bleu clair (no 's' on bleu or clair, no feminine 'e').
What is the feminine form of "blanc"?
The feminine form of blanc is blanche. For example: un chemisier blanc (a white blouse - m) vs une chemise blanche (a white shirt - f).
Are there exceptions to the "fruit/object colors are invariable" rule?
Yes! A few historical fruit/flower words have been fully adopted as standard adjectives and do agree: rose (pink), mauve (mauve), pourpre (purple), incarnat (flesh-red), and fauve (tawny). For example: des fleurs roses takes an 's'.
How do you pronounce "rouge" and "vert"?
Rouge is pronounced /ʁuʒ/ ("roozh" with a guttural French R). Vert is pronounced /vɛʁ/ ("vair", the final 't' is silent). Click on any color card in the tool above and press 🔊 Pronounce to hear native audio!
What is the difference between "brun" and "marron"?
Both mean "brown", but marron is used for everyday objects, clothes, and eyes (e.g. des yeux marron), and is invariable. Brun (fem. brune) is used for hair, skin tone, or poetic contexts, and agrees in gender and number.
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