Fickle French Adjectives - Adjectifs qui changent de sens

Most French adjectives must be placed after the noun they modify, except for the BAGS exceptions (learn more). There are also a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on where they are placed. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.Here are the most common fickle French adjectives. Fickle French Adjectives ancienFigurative or subjective meaningmon ancienne à ©cole - my old (former) schoolun ancien chà ¢teau - an old chà ¢teau (now a hotel)Literal or objective meaningmon à ©cole ancienne - my old (aged) schoolun chà ¢teau ancien - an ancient chà ¢teau bonFigurative or subjective meaningune bonne rà ©putation - a good reputationLiteral or objective meaningun homme bon - a good (charitable) man braveFigurative or subjective meaningun brave homme - a good (decent) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme brave - a brave man certain Figurative or subjective meaningun certain regard - a certain (type of) lookun certain à ¢ge - old age (euphemism)Literal or objective meaningune victoire certaine - a certain (assured) victoryun à ¢ge certain - old age (rude)Word play: Certain à ¢ge et à ¢ge certain cherFigurative or subjective meaningun cher ami - a dear friendLiteral or objective meaningun pull cher - an expensive sweater chicFigurative or subjective meaningune chic fille - a nice, decent girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille chic - a classy girl curieuxFigurative or subjective meaningun curieux homme - a curious (strange) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme curieux - a curious (nosy) man dernierFigurative or subjective meaningla dernià ¨re semaine - the last week (of the year)Literal or objective meaningla semaine dernià ¨re - last week (the one before this one) diffà ©rentFigurative or subjective meaningdiffà ©rentes idà ©es - various ideasLiteral or objective meaningune idà ©e diffà ©rente - different idea diversFigurative or subjective meaningdivers à ©tudiants - various, several studentsLiteral or objective meaningdes à ©tudiants divers - varied, diverse students douxFigurative or subjective meaningune douce musique* - sweet musicun doux parfum* - sweet perfumeLiteral or objective meaningla moutarde douce - sweet mustard  Ã‚  Ã‚  la peau douce - soft skin drà ´leFigurative or subjective meaningun drà ´le didà ©e - strange ideaLiteral or objective meaningune histoire drà ´le - funny story faibleFigurative or subjective meaningune faible chance - weak, poor, slight chanceLiteral or objective meaningun homme faible - a weak man fameuxFigurative or subjective meaningun fameux problà ¨me - a heck of a problemLiteral or objective meaningun vin fameux - first-rate wine francFigurative or subjective meaningun franc imbà ©cile - total idiotLiteral or objective meaningune diffà ©rence franche - clear difference grandFigurative or subjective meaningun grand homme - a great manLiteral or objective meaningun homme grand - a tall man grosFigurative or subjective meaningun gros problà ¨me - big problemLiteral or objective meaningun homme gros - fat man honnà ªteFigurative or subjective meaningun honnà ªte homme** - a gentlemanLiteral or objective meaningun homme honnà ªte - an honest man jeuneFigurative or subjective meaningune jeune femme - a young womanLiteral or objective meaningune femme jeune - youthful woman *For this meaning, the adjective can precede or follow the noun **Somewhat archaic maigreFigurative or subjective meaningun maigre repas - skimpy, meager mealLiteral or objective meaningun garà §on maigre - skinny boy mà ©chantFigurative or subjective meaningun mà ©chant cigare - great big cigarLiteral or objective meaningun homme mà ©chant - mean (cruel) man mà ªmeFigurative or subjective meaningle mà ªme jour - the same dayLiteral or objective meaningle jour mà ªme - the very day modesteFigurative or subjective meaningun modeste repas - small, simple mealLiteral or objective meaningun homme modeste - modest, humble man nobleFigurative or subjective meaningnobles aspirations - noble, worthy aspirationsLiteral or objective meaningune femme noble - imposing, respected woman nouveauFigurative or subjective meaningun nouveau produit - a new, alternative productLiteral or objective meaningun produit nouveau - a new, original product pauvreFigurative or subjective meaningun pauvre homme - a poor (pitiful) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme pauvre - a poor (penniless) man platFigurative or subjective meaningune plate excuse - a humble excuseLiteral or objective meaningun pays plat - a flat country premierFigurative or subjective meaningle premier problà ¨me - first problemLiteral or objective meaningle problà ¨me premier - fundamental, basic problem prochainFigurative or subjective meaningla prochaine semaine - the following weekLiteral or objective meaningla semaine prochaine - next week propreFigurative or subjective meaningma propre chambre - my own bedroomLiteral or objective meaningune chambre propre - a clean bedroom pureFigurative or subjective meaningla pure imagination - pure, total imaginationLiteral or objective meaningleau pure - pure water rareFigurative or subjective meaningdune rare beautà © - exceptionally beautifulLiteral or objective meaningun oiseau rare - rare bird rudeFigurative or subjective meaningune rude tà ¢che - difficult taskLiteral or objective meaningune barbe rude - rough beard sacrà ©Figurative or subjective meaningun sacrà © menteur - a damn liarLiteral or objective meaningun objet sacrà © - a sacred object saleFigurative or subjective meaningune sale ville - a nasty townLiteral or objective meaningune ville sale - a dirty town seulFigurative or subjective meaningla seule fille - the one/single/only girlLiteral or objective meaningune fille seule - lonely girl, a girl who is alone simpleFigurative or subjective meaningun simple homme - a mere (plain, ordinary) manLiteral or objective meaningun homme simple - a modest, honest man tristeFigurative or subjective meaningun triste individu - a sad (mean, bad) personLiteral or objective meaningun individu triste - a sad (crying) person uniqueFigurative or subjective meaningun unique fils - an only sonLiteral or objective meaningun fils unique - only child (who is a boy) và ©ritableFigurative or subjective meaningun và ©ritable problà ¨me - serious problemLiteral or objective meaningun problà ¨me và ©ritable - genuine (not fake) problem vertFigurative or subjective meaningmes vertes annà ©es - my green (fruitful) yearsLiteral or objective meaninglà ©gumes verts - green vegetables vilainFigurative or subjective meaningvilains mots - bad wordsLiteral or objective meaningun garà §on vilain - ugly or naughty child vraiFigurative or subjective meaningun vrai ami - a real, true friendLiteral or objective meaningune histoire vraie - true story