Language/French/Grammar/Masculine-and-feminine-forms-of-adjectives-—-A-change-in-written,-but-not-spoken
General Rule
The general rule is that an -e is added to the masculine form of adjectives to produce the feminine form.
In cases where the masculine form ends in one of the following vowels or consonants, there is a change in the written form but not in the spoken form:
| French | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Feminine | ||
| -u | absolu | absolue | absolute |
| aigu | aiguë | high (sound) | |
| ambigu | ambiguë | ambiguous | |
| contigu | contiguë | contiguous | |
NB: In the case of aigu, ambigu, contigu, a diaresis (ë) is added to the feminine -e in written French to indicate that the -u sound is maintained in spoken French (aigue would be pronounced rather like English 'egg' otherwise; compare long/longue).
| French | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Feminine | ||
| -é | fermé | fermée | closed |
| -er | fier | fière | proud |
| cher | chère | expensive | |
| amer | amère | bitter | |
NB: In these cases, where the final r is pronounced in the masculine, a grave accent is added to the first written e.
| French | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Feminine | ||
| -l | hardi | hardie | bold |
| NB: Exception: | favori | favorite | favourite |
| -c | public | publique | public |
| turc | turque | Turkish | |
| NB: c is maintained in: | grec | grecque | Greek |
| -ct | direct | directe | direct |
| -r | sûr | sûre | certain |
| pur | pure | pure | |
| -al | national | nationale | national |
| -el | général | générale | general |
| hivernal | hivernale | winter | |
| final | finale | final | |
| personnel | personnelle | personal | |
| professionnel | professionnelle | professional | |
| passionnel | passionnelle | emotive | |
| -ul | cruel | cruelle | cruel |
| nul | nulle | no- | |
NB: In these cases, it is -le which is added and not just -e.
| French | English | |
| Masculine | Feminine | |
| espagnol | espagnole | Spanish |
| puéril | puérile | childish |
| civil | civile | civil |
NB: In these cases the / is pronounced in the masculine.
By contrast in the following adjectives the final -il is pronounced as indicated:
| French | English | |
| Masculine | Feminine | |
| gentil [-i] | gentille [-ij] | kind |
| pareil [-ej] | pareille [-ej] | similar |
| vermeil [-ej] | vermeille [-ej] | bright red |