Agreement of colour adjectives
Simple colour adjectives (bleu, vert, rouge, and so on) agree normally. Colours derived from a noun (orange, marron, crème, and so on) and compound colours (bleu foncé, vert clair, and so on) stay unchanged.
Examples
Des yeux bleus.
Key word(s): bleus
A simple colour, so it agrees normally.
Des chaussures marron.
Key word(s): marron
Derived from the noun "marron" (the nut), so it stays unchanged.
Des robes bleu clair.
Key word(s): bleu clair
A compound colour, so it stays unchanged.
Des chemises vertes.
Key word(s): vertes
A simple colour, so it agrees normally.
Des murs orange.
Key word(s): orange
Derived from the noun "orange" (the fruit), so it stays unchanged.
Common mistakes
- Making "marron" or "orange" agree like ordinary adjectives
- Making compound colours agree ("des yeux bleus clairs")
- Exceptions: rose, mauve and pourpre do agree despite their origin
Test yourself
Des fleurs ___.
Des gants ___.
Des yeux ___.
Tips to remember
- Colours that stay unchanged (nouns): orange, marron, crème, cerise, turquoise, kaki, and others.
- Exceptions that do agree: rose, mauve, pourpre, écarlate.
- As soon as there are two words (bleu clair, vert pomme), the colour stays unchanged.
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