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Adéquat or approprié? Suitable choices, with examples

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A practical French sheet on adéquat and approprié: matching needs, choosing wording, adjective agreement and four questions that allow natural synonym overlap.

In short

Adéquat and approprié both mean suitable or appropriate. Adéquat often highlights meeting a need; approprié often highlights fitting a situation. In un équipement adéquat / approprié, either adjective can work.

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Adéquat et approprié · fiche

1 · Match a choice to a need

Use adéquat when the focus is whether something meets the practical requirement. Add pour + the task.

Il nous faut un éclairage adéquat pour lire.We need suitable lighting for reading.

Cette pièce offre un espace adéquat pour travailler à deux.This room offers suitable space for two people to work.

2 · Match wording to its context

Approprié à connects a choice with the situation or audience it suits. Pour also introduces a purpose.

Cette formulation est appropriée à un échange professionnel.This wording is appropriate for a professional exchange.

Choisis un exemple approprié pour expliquer la règle.Choose an appropriate example to explain the rule.

3 · Keep the shared uses

Both adjectives can describe equipment, answers and methods. The reason for the choice makes the meaning precise.

Nous avons le matériel adéquat pour cet atelier.We have suitable equipment for this workshop.

Nous avons le matériel approprié pour cet atelier.We have the right equipment for this workshop.

4 · Check the feminine ending

Adéquat adds -e. Approprié keeps its accent and adds -e. Add -s for a plural noun.

adéquat → adéquate → adéquatesmasculine singular → feminine singular → feminine plural
approprié → appropriée → appropriéesmasculine singular → feminine singular → feminine plural

Les deux solutions sont appropriées.Both solutions are appropriate.

Choose equipment for a home workspace

Add the reason: suitable for what?

Choisir une pièce pour travailler
  1. Léa

    Cette pièce est lumineuse, mais elle est très bruyante.

    This room is bright, but it is very noisy.

  2. Karim

    Elle n’est pas appropriée pour nos appels vidéo.

    It isn’t suitable for our video calls.

  3. Léa

    Prenons la petite pièce au fond. Elle est plus calme.

    Let’s take the small room at the back. It’s quieter.

Here appropriée refers to the practical use of the room. It also works with equipment, just as adéquate works with an answer. French adéquat often means “suitable” or “right for the purpose”; translating it as English “only just good enough” can make the judgement sound weaker.

Question 1No account needed
Complete with the feminine of adéquat.Cette réponse est ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

adéquate. Réponse is feminine singular, so the ending is -ate.

Question 2No account needed
Choose the correctly agreed phrase.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

des solutions appropriées. Solutions is feminine plural: appropriées takes both the final e and s.

Question 3No account needed
Which pair can both describe equipment suitable for a workshop?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

un matériel adéquat / un matériel approprié. Adéquat and approprié overlap when equipment fits a stated purpose.

Question 4No account needed
Why is the bright room unsuitable in the scene?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It is too noisy for video calls.. Karim connects the room’s noise with the intended use: video calls.

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