All the Pretty Colors French Adjectives of Color

The French have long been in love with color, and they have many names for pure and nuanced color. Here are some of the most common French colors, plus color variations and other extras for anyone who loves color as much as the French do. There are, of course, many more French colors than we have listed here, especially in French fashion  and in French beauty products like makeup and hair color. But this will give you a taste of French colors and the rules that govern their usage. Lets start at the beginning with la  couleur,  which  is a feminine noun, as in les couleurs primaires (primary colors) and les couleurs complà ©mentaires (complementary colors). The colors themselves are adjectives describing something, such as une jolie couleur verte (a pretty shade of green). The Rules of Color Agreement Some colors (remember, theyre adjectives) agree with the noun they modify; others dont. According to the rules of color agreement, colors based on the names of fruit, flowers, precious stones, metals, and other elements of nature are invariable (invariable, do not change form), as are compound colors consisting of  two or more  colors (a blue green chair) or a color with an adjective of intensity (a dark blue chair). The remaining French colors agree with the nouns that they modify. Exceptions:  pourpre and violet (purple), mauve (mauve), rose (pink), eÃŒ carlate (scarlet red), fauve (fawn),  and incarnat (crimson red), which do agree with the number and gender of the noun they modify. When in doubt, check a French dictionary, which will show both masculine and feminine forms of any color that changes in agreement with its noun or it will say adjectif invariable  for any color that does not change, i.e., is invariable. A Few Colors (Couleurs) Abricot   apricotAmbre    amber (dark orange yellow)Argentà ©Ã‚  Ã‚  silver  Avocat   avocadoBeige beigeBlanc or blanche   white;  Ãƒ ©cru   off-white;  cà ©ruse   old white;  coquille doeuf   white with a touch of pinkish tan, like an egg;  crà ¨me   cream;  blanc dEspagne   Spanish white, slightly cream;  blanc cassà ©Ã‚   broken white between crà ¨me and bisBleu blue;  bleu ardoise slate blue;  bleu canard peacock blue;  bleu ciel   sky blue; bleu marine navy blue;  bleu nuit midnight blue;  bleu outremer ultramarineBrun brown, dark;  brun cuivrà ©Ã‚  Ã‚  tawny;  brun roux   auburnChocolat   chocolate brownDorà © golden,  golden brown, the color of giltFauve fawn (taupe, light grayish brown)Gris gray;  fumà ©e smoke; cendre ash;  bis soft greyJaune   yellow;  jaune citron   lemon yellow;  jaune coing   [bright] quince yellow;  jaune dor   golden yellow;  jaune moutarde   mustard yello w;  jaune paille   straw yellow;  jaune  canari   canary yellow;  jaune poussin   chick yellow, bright yellowMarron  (horse chestnut)   brown;  marron glacà © light chestnut brown; cafà © au lait light brownMauve   mauveMulticolore   multicoloredNoir black;  Ãƒ ©bà ¨ne ebonyOrange   orange  Pourpre purpleRose   pinkRouge red;  eÃŒ carlate   scarlet;  incarnat   crimson  Transparent transparentTurquoise   turquoiseVert green; vert citron lime green; vert sapin pine  green, forest green;  vert prà © / vert gazon grass green; olive / pistache / à ©meraude olive / pistachio / emerald; vert pomme / deau / bouteille apple / sea / bottle greenViolet  or  violette   violet Invariables: Colors Based on Elements of Nature Color adjectives based on elements of nature such as the names of flowers, fruits, precious and other stones, or metals are generally invariable, meaning they do not agree with the noun they modify and, therefore, do not change form. Many are compound adjectives such as jaune citron, which also makes them invariable; take away the main color such as jaune and leave only the modifier from nature such as citron, and you still have an invariable, unchanging adjective. Some common colors that derive their names from fruits, stones, metals, flowers and other elements of nature  include: Abricot   apricotAmbre  Ã‚   amber (dark orange yellow)Avocat   avocadoBleu ardoise   slate blue;  bleu canard   peacock blueBrique   brick redBronze   bronzeChocolat chocolate brownÉbà ¨ne   ebony (black)Fuschia   fuschiaJaune citron   lemon yellow; jaune coing quince yellow, bright yellow;  jaune dor   golden yellow;  jaune moutarde   mustard yellow;  jaune paille   straw yellow;  jaune canari   canary yellow;  jaune poussin   chick yellow, bright yellowLavande   lavenderMarron  (horse chestnut) brown;  marron glacà ©Ã‚   light chestnut brown;  cafà © au lait   light brownNoisette   hazelnutOrange   orangeTurquoise   turquoiseVert citron lime green;  vert sapin   pine green, forest green;  vert prà © / vert gazon   grass green; olive / pistache / à ©meraude   olive / pistachio / emerald; vert pomme / deau / bouteille   apple / sea / bottle green Because these are invariable (do not agree in gender and number), you would say: Des cravates orange orange ties (not oranges)Des yeux marron brown eyes (not marrons)Des yeux noisette hazel eyes (not noisettes)Des fleurs fuschia   fuschia-colored flowers (not fuschia/e/s)Des chaussures citron  Ã‚  lemon yellow shoes (not citron/e/s)Des   pantalons cerise cherry red pants (not cerises) Exceptions:  pourpre and violet (purple), mauve (mauve), rose (pink), eÃŒ carlate (scarlet red), fauve (fawn), and  incarnat (crimson red), which agree with the number and gender of the noun they modify. For example: Des chaussures fauves taupe shoes More Invariables: Compound Colors When a color consists of two or more colors or a color and an adjective of intensity, then the color adjectives are invariable, meaning they do not agree in number and gender with the noun they describe. Une chemise bleu vert (not bleue verte)Des yeux gris bleu (not gris bleus)Une robe vert paÌ‚le (not verte paÌ‚le) And More Invariables: Adjectives of  Intensity Color Adjectives describing the nuances or degrees of intensity often  modify colors. Together, they form a compound color such as  rose clair  (light pink)  that is invariable. Such adjectives of intensity include: Clair   lightFonceÃŒ    darkVif   brightPaÌ‚le   pale