Common mistakes
Neuf or nouveau? Four mistakes about new things in French
Distinguish unused things from things that are new to you. Fix four common confusions, learn nouvel and neuve, and practise with pictures.
- A2
- 4 corrections
- Examples and fixes
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Neuf describes new condition: un vélo neuf is an unused bike. Nouveau marks a change or arrival: mon nouveau vélo can be second-hand. Say un nouvel appartement before the masculine vowel-starting noun; say une maison neuve for a newly built house.
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- mon nouveau manteaunecessarily an unused coatmy new coat: new in my life
Mon nouveau manteau est d’occasion.My new coat is second-hand.
For an unused coat, say un manteau neuf.
- une maison neuvejust a house you have recently moved intoa newly built house
Ils habitent une maison neuve, construite cette année.They live in a new house, built this year.
For a new home in your life, say notre nouvelle maison.
- un nouvel appartementa feminine noun phrasea new flat: appartement is masculine
Mon nouvel appartement est dans un immeuble ancien.My new flat is in an old building.
Use nouvel directly before a masculine singular noun starting with a vowel sound or mute h.
- comme neufnever usedas good as new
Ce vélo a deux ans, mais il est comme neuf.This bike is two years old, but it is as good as new.
For a feminine object, agree the adjective: cette veste est comme neuve.
| Noun | New to a situation | Unused / newly made |
|---|---|---|
| un vélo | un nouveau vélo | un vélo neuf |
| un appartement | un nouvel appartement | un appartement neuf |
| une veste | une nouvelle veste | une veste neuve |
| des vélos | de nouveaux vélos | des vélos neufs |
| des vestes | de nouvelles vestes | des vestes neuves |
Read the sentence as well as the picture
Find:
A picture can show wear, but the sentence tells you the object’s history. A recent purchase can be both nouveau and neuf. A second-hand purchase can be nouveau and comme neuf. With people and jobs, use nouveau: une nouvelle collègue, un nouveau travail.
Quoi de neuf ? — J’ai un nouveau travail !
What’s new? — I’ve got a new job!
In the question quoi de neuf ?, the expression stays as it is. In a description, agree neuf: neuve, neufs, neuves. In l’appartement est nouveau pour moi, use nouveau: the special form nouvel belongs directly before the noun.