In English, adjectives always come before the noun. You say a red car, a big house, an interesting book.
But in French, it’s not always that simple!
Sometimes adjectives go after the noun, and sometimes they go before.
The good news? There’s logic behind it and a few easy rules can help you master it.
If you already know how French adjectives agree in gender and number, this lesson will show you where to place them correctly.
If not, check out my other article first: “French Adjectives Made Easy: Masculine, Feminine and Plural Forms.”
1. The General Rule: Adjectives Usually Come After the Noun
Most French adjectives are placed after the noun — that’s the default rule.
If you’re not sure, this is the safest option!
Examples:
- une voiture rouge → a red car
- une table ronde → a round table
- un livre intéressant → an interesting book
- un exercice difficile → a difficult exercise
- un professeur français → a French teacher
💡 Tip: When in doubt, put the adjective after the noun — you’ll be correct most of the time!
2. The Common Exceptions: Short and Frequent Adjectives Go Before the Noun
Most adjectives in French come after the noun, but a few short and very common ones come before it.
These adjectives are used so often that their position feels “fixed” in everyday speech.
| Adjective | Example (French) | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| beau | une belle robe | a beautiful dress |
| bon | une bonne idée | a good idea |
| grand | un grand homme | a great man |
| gros | un gros chat | a big cat |
| faux | un faux billet | a counterfeit note / a fake banknote |
| haut | un haut mur | a tall wall |
| jeune | un jeune homme | a young man |
| joli | une jolie fleur | a pretty flower |
| long | une longue journée | a long day |
| mauvais | un mauvais souvenir | a bad memory |
| meilleur | le meilleur ami | the best friend |
| nouveau | un nouvel appartement | a new apartment |
| petit | un petit chien | a small dog |
| premier | la première fois | the first time |
| vieux | un vieil ami | an old friend |
💡 Tip: If the adjective is short, frequent, and commonly used — it probably goes before the noun!
3. When Meaning Changes with Position
Some adjectives can go before or after the noun, but their meaning changes depending on position.
| Adjective | Before the noun | After the noun |
|---|---|---|
| ancien | former | old |
| cher | dear (beloved) | expensive |
| grand | great | tall |
| pauvre | unfortunate | poor (no money) |
| propre | own | clean |
| certain | some | sure |
| seul | only | alone |
Examples:
- mon ancien professeur → my former teacher
- un professeur ancien → an old teacher
- ma propre chambre → my own room
- une chambre propre → a clean room
- un grand homme → a great man
- un homme grand → a tall man
💡 Tip: If an adjective can appear in both positions, it often has a figurative meaning before the noun and a literal meaning after it.
🧩 Quiz
You’ve learned when to place adjectives before or after the noun now it’s time to practice!
Practice Tip
✅ Learn adjectives in context, not in isolation.
✅ If you’re unsure, put the adjective after the noun.
✅ Remember that the most common short adjectives (like beau, bon, grand, petit, vieux, nouveau…) usually come before.
✅ Listen carefully to native speakers — you’ll start to hear the pattern naturally!
Final Thought
French word order with adjectives may seem tricky at first, but there’s a rhythm to it.
With a bit of practice, you’ll start saying une belle journée, un petit café, or un film intéressant.