Nouveau, nouvel, nouvelle in French: choosing the right form

Nouveau, nouvel, nouvelle, nouveaux and nouvelles are forms of the French adjective for “new”. Use nouveau before a masculine singular noun, nouvelle before a feminine singular noun, nouveaux before masculine plural nouns and nouvelles before feminine plural nouns. Use nouvel before a masculine singular noun that starts with a vowel or silent h: un nouvel ami.

Nouveau before masculine singular nouns

Use nouveau with a masculine singular noun that starts with a consonant sound. It usually comes before the noun.

J’ai un nouveau travail.
I have a new job.

This word often means “new to the speaker”, not necessarily brand-new in the world. Un nouveau livre can be a book you just bought or started reading.

Nouvel before a vowel or silent h

Use nouvel before masculine singular nouns that start with a vowel sound or a silent h.

Elle a un nouvel ordinateur.
She has a new computer.

C’est un nouvel hôtel dans le quartier.
It’s a new hotel in the neighborhood.

The noun is still masculine. Nouvel is only the sound-friendly form of nouveau.

Nouvelle, nouveaux and nouvelles

Use nouvelle for feminine singular nouns. Use nouveaux and nouvelles for plural nouns.

Nous avons une nouvelle adresse.
We have a new address.

Ils cherchent de nouveaux appartements.
They are looking for new apartments.

J’ai acheté de nouvelles chaussures.
I bought new shoes.

Like beau, nouveau often changes des to de before a plural adjective: de nouveaux amis, de nouvelles idées.

Common mistakes

Using nouveau before a vowel

With a masculine singular vowel-starting noun, use nouvel.

un nouveau ami -> un nouvel ami
a new friend

Using nouvel with feminine nouns

Feminine nouns use nouvelle.

une nouvel adresse -> une nouvelle adresse
a new address

Forgetting the plural x

The masculine plural form is nouveaux, not nouveau.

de nouveau livres -> de nouveaux livres
new books

Nouveau follows the same before-noun adjective pattern as beau, bel, belle, but with its own vowel form nouvel. Fluera makes you choose the form inside full noun phrases, so gender, number and the next sound stay connected. Try it when you practice French.

Practice