Neuf vs Nouveau


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French foes

The French adjectives neuf and nouveau can be tricky for French students because they are both equivalent to "new" but are not interchangeable. Here’s a new look at these timeless French foes.

Neuf = objectively new

Neuf is used for something that is objectively new: brand new, new to the world, never used.

Par exemple…

C’est un livre neuf.		It’s a brand-new book (I’m the first owner).
J’ai trouvé un restaurant neuf.		I found a new restaurant (it just opened).
Maison neuve à vendre		New (just-built) house for sale
Il lance une théorie neuve.		He’s advancing a brand-new theory.
J’ai mis des chaussettes neuves.		I put on some (brand-new) socks.

Antonym: vieux (old)

Grammar notes

Like most French adjectives, neuf follows the noun it modifies and has four forms to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies:

	masculine	feminine
singular	neuf	neuve
plural	neufs	neuves

Noun: le neuf = something new.

More: Expressions with neuf / nouveau

Homonym: Neuf is also the number "nine."

Nouveau = subjectively new

Nouveau means new to the speaker, a new possession, "new to me," different than its predecessor.

Par exemple…

C’est un nouveau livre d’occasion.		It’s a new (to me) used book.
J’ai trouvé un nouveau restaurant.		I found a new restaurant (I’ve never eaten there).
Nous achetons une nouvelle maison de 1875.		We’re buying a new (to us) house built in 1875.
Il lance une nouvelle théorie.		He’s advancing a new theory (he gave up on the previous one).
J’ai mis de nouvelles chaussettes.		I put on some new (clean) socks.

Antonym: ancien (former)

Grammar notes

Unlike most French adjectives, nouveau usually precedes the noun it modifies (but see movable adjectives). It has four forms to agree in gender and number …