Level A1 (Beginner)
The French Word of the Day is “nouveau” (new), which changes form based on gender and sometimes the following letter. This lesson will clarify when to use nouveau, nouvelle, and nouvel, helping you better use the adjective.
Meaning
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Word origin
Meaning
Nouveau (masculine) and nouvelle (feminine) both translate to “new” in French. These adjectives always precede the noun they modify, agreeing in gender and number.
Nouvel is a special form and is used before masculine nouns beginning with a vowel to create a liaison (e.g., un nouvel ami). The plural forms are nouveaux for masculine nouns and nouvelles for feminine nouns.
Pronunciation
Nouveau, nouvelle /nu.vo, nu.vɛl/
Example sentences
For these first two example sentences the usage of nouveau/nouvelle is very straight forward: Un nouveau + masculine noun and une nouvelle + feminine noun. This first sentence uses puis-je, which is the inversion form of the question “Est-ce que je peux?” (can I?).
Où puis-j’acheter un nouveau mini-four ?
Where can I buy a new toaster oven?
La famille achète une nouvelle voiture cette année.
The family is buying a new car this year.
This final sentence uses nouvel as the masculine form of nouveau. The pronunciation of nouvel and the feminine form nouvelle are essentially the same. This is done in order to affect a liaison (linking of two words) as ordinateur (computer) is masculine and starts with a vowel.
Other examples are un nouvel appartement (a new apartment), un nouvel ami (a new friend), un nouvel emploi (a new job) and le nouvel an (the new year).
Marc va au magasin pour acheter un nouvel ordinateur.
Marc is going to the store to buy a new computer.
Plural forms
The plural forms for nouveau/nouvelle are nouveaux and nouvelles.
- les nouveaux – les nouveaux skis (new skis)
- les nouvelles – les nouvelles chaussures (new shoes)
Word origin
Nouveau comes from novus in Latin, meaning new, fresh and young.
Related lessons
References
