When you're learning French, "nouveau" (or its various forms like "nouvel" and "nouvelle") is likely the first word you learn for "new". But did you know there are many other fascinating ways to express novelty in French? Expanding your vocabulary beyond the basics will not only make your French sound more natural but also allow you to convey subtle differences in meaning. Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "new" and enrich your French!

The standard 'new' (before a noun, gender and number agreement) – nouveau/nouvel/nouvelle

Nouveau (and its various forms) is the primary French adjective for 'new,' conveying the idea of something recently acquired, different from the previous one, or unfamiliar.

For masculine singular nouns, nouveau has two forms: * nouveau: used before nouns starting with a consonant (e.g., un nouveau livre - a new book) * nouvel: used before nouns starting with a vowel or a silent 'h' (e.g., un nouvel appartement - a new apartment, un nouvel hôtel - a new hotel)

For feminine singular nouns, the form is nouvelle (e.g., une nouvelle voiture - a new car, une nouvelle amie - a new friend (female)).

For plural nouns, the forms are: * nouveaux: masculine plural (e.g., de nouveaux amis - new friends (male or mixed group)) * nouvelles: feminine plural (e.g., de nouvelles idées - new ideas)

A crucial rule for nouveau is its placement: it always precedes the noun it modifies. This makes it part of a small group of adjectives that come before the noun in French.

Nouveau implies 'new' in the sense of 'different,' 'unfamiliar,' or 'recently obtained' – it replaces something old or is simply different. Think of a new hairstyle, a new job, or a new friend.

It's important to distinguish nouveau from neuf (masculine singular) / neuve (feminine singular), which means 'brand new,' 'freshly made,' or 'never used.' For example, une voiture neuve is a car fresh from the factory, whereas une nouvelle voiture is simply a car you've recently acquired (it could be used, but it's new to you or different from your previous one).

The choice between nouveau and neuf hinges on the specific meaning of 'new' you wish to convey. If the item is new to your experience, or represents a change, nouveau is generally the correct choice.

Mastering these forms and understanding the subtle difference from neuf will significantly enhance your ability to describe things as 'new' accurately and naturally in French. Always consider if the 'newness' is about origin/condition or about being different/recently acquired.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau téléphone. (I bought a new phone.)

Ils ont trouvé un nouvel appartement. (They found a new apartment.)

Elle porte une nouvelle robe. (She's wearing a new dress.)

Nous avons de nouveaux voisins. (We have new neighbors.)

Ce sont de nouvelles opportunités. (These are new opportunities.)

The 'new' for something physically brand new, unused, or unworn – neuf/neuve

When you want to describe something as brand new, unused, or unworn, the French word you're looking for is neuf (masculine) or neuve (feminine).

Unlike nouveau (which means new in the sense of 'recently acquired' or 'different from before'), neuf/neuve specifically refers to the condition of an item: it's fresh from the factory, has never been used, or is in pristine, unworn state.

You would use neuf/neuve to describe a new car that just came off the lot, a brand new pair of shoes still in their box, or a book that has never been opened. It emphasizes the physical state of being untouched.

Remember that neuf/neuve is an adjective and must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. So, for a masculine noun like un livre (a book), you say un livre neuf. For a feminine noun like une voiture (a car), you say une voiture neuve.

The core idea behind neuf/neuve is that the item is in its original, perfect condition, as if it has just been created or purchased. It hasn't been used, worn, or previously owned.

So, when you want to convey that something is genuinely brand new and untouched, neuf/neuve is your go-to adjective in French.

💡 * J'ai acheté une voiture neuve. (I bought a brand new car.)

Il porte des chaussures neuves. (He's wearing brand new shoes.)

C'est un appartement neuf. (It's a brand new apartment.)

Elle a un téléphone neuf. (She has a new/unused phone.)

Ce livre est encore neuf. (This book is still new/unused.)

The 'new' implying recentness or something that just happened – récent/récente

When you want to express "new" in the sense of recent or something that just happened, the French adjective to use is récent (masculine) or récente (feminine).

Like most French adjectives, récent/récente agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: * récent: masculine singular (e.g., un film récent) * récente: feminine singular (e.g., une étude récente) * récents: masculine plural (e.g., des événements récents) * récentes: feminine plural (e.g., des nouvelles récentes)

This adjective specifically refers to something that is not old or has occurred or been made only a short time ago. It focuses on the recency of an event, discovery, or object's creation, emphasizing its temporal proximity to the present.

It's crucial to distinguish récent from nouveau/nouvel/nouvelle. While both can translate to "new," nouveau implies something different, unfamiliar, or replacing an older version (e.g., a new car replacing an old one). Récent focuses purely on the time aspect – it happened recently.

Typically, récent/récente follows the noun it describes, adhering to the general rule for most descriptive adjectives in French. For example, you would say un article récent (a recent article) rather than un récent article.

💡 * J'ai lu un article récent sur le sujet. (I read a recent article on the subject.)* C'est une découverte scientifique très récente. (It's a very recent scientific discovery.)* Nous avons regardé un film récent hier soir. (We watched a recent movie last night.)* Les pluies récentes ont causé des inondations. (The recent rains caused floods.)* J'ai acheté une voiture d'occasion, mais elle est très récente. (I bought a used car, but it's very recent/new model.)

The 'new' meaning unprecedented, original, or never-before-seen – inédit/inédite

The French adjective inédit (masculine) or inédite (feminine) describes something that is unprecedented, original, or never-before-seen.

As an adjective, inédit/inédite must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For plural, it becomes inédits (masculine plural) and inédites (feminine plural).

This word is often used to describe events, works of art, discoveries, or situations that are truly unique and have no prior equivalent. It emphasizes novelty in a profound, often historical or groundbreaking sense.

While both mean 'new,' inédit carries a stronger connotation of originality and lack of precedent, unlike nouveau which can simply mean 'recently acquired' or 'different from the old one.'

💡 * C'est un événement inédit dans l'histoire de notre ville. (It's an unprecedented event in the history of our city.)

Elle a présenté une œuvre inédite et très originale. (She presented an original and very unique work.)

Ces images sont totalement inédites. (These images are totally never-before-seen.)

Nous avons découvert des documents inédits. (We discovered never-before-published documents.)

La situation est inédite pour tout le monde. (The situation is unprecedented for everyone.)

The emphatic 'brand new' or 'spick and span' – tout neuf/toute neuve

Tout neuf (masculine) and toute neuve (feminine) translate to “brand new,” “spick and span,” or “fresh off the press.” The addition of tout (or toute) emphasizes the newness, making it much stronger than just neuf or nouveau.

Like many French adjectives, neuf/neuve must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. The adverb tout also agrees in gender when preceding a feminine adjective starting with a consonant or aspirated h, hence toute neuve.

This expression is used to describe objects that are literally new and have never been used before, or are in pristine, perfect condition, as if newly made or acquired.

While nouveau means 'new' in the sense of 'different' or 'recently acquired' (e.g., a new style, a new friend), neuf specifically means 'brand new,' never before used or worn. Tout neuf amplifies this distinction even further.

Remember to choose tout neuf for masculine nouns and toute neuve for feminine nouns to accurately convey that something is absolutely pristine and unused.

💡 * J'ai acheté une voiture toute neuve. (I bought a brand new car.)

Mon ordinateur est tout neuf. (My computer is brand new.)

Elle porte des chaussures toutes neuves. (She's wearing brand new shoes.)

Le bâtiment est tout neuf, il vient d'être inauguré. (The building is brand new, it has just been inaugurated.)

The 'new' referring to something innovative or pioneering – novateur/novatrice

When you want to express that something is 'new' in the sense of being innovative, pioneering, or groundbreaking in French, the adjectives novateur (masculine singular) and novatrice (feminine singular) are your go-to words. They signify a fresh, original, and often revolutionary quality.

These terms are frequently used to describe ideas, methods, projects, or approaches that introduce something new or different from what existed before. For instance, you might refer to une idée novatrice (an innovative idea) or un concept novateur (a pioneering concept) to highlight their originality and forward-thinking nature.

Beyond abstract concepts, novateur/novatrice can also characterize individuals or tangible creations. A person who introduces new ideas or methods can be described as un esprit novateur (an innovative mind) or une artiste novatrice (a pioneering artist). Similarly, a product, technology, or design can be novateur if it brings significant advancements or originality.

It's important to differentiate novateur/novatrice from other French words for 'new,' such as nouveau/nouvelle (new in terms of recent acquisition or freshness) and neuf/neuve (new in terms of being unused or newly manufactured). Novateur specifically emphasizes the aspect of innovation, originality, and often, a paradigm shift, rather than just recency or lack of prior use.

These adjectives are typically used in more formal, professional, academic, or marketing contexts where the emphasis is on progress and originality. Using novateur/novatrice helps convey a sense of sophistication and highlights the cutting-edge nature of the subject, making it excellent for SEO related to innovation, technology, and advanced concepts in French.

💡 * C'est une approche vraiment novatrice pour résoudre ce problème.

Elle est une chercheuse novatrice dans son domaine.

Ce logiciel offre des fonctionnalités novatrices.

Le design de ce bâtiment est très novateur.

Nous recherchons des solutions novatrices pour l'avenir.

The 'new' in the sense of the latest or most recent version – dernier/dernière

When referring to something 'new' in the sense of being the latest, most recent, or final version, the French adjective to use is dernier/dernière. It helps distinguish a current iteration from previous ones.

As an adjective, dernier/dernière must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use dernier for masculine singular nouns and dernière for feminine singular nouns. The plural forms are derniers (masculine plural) and dernières (feminine plural).

Unlike some adjectives, dernier/dernière usually comes before the noun it modifies when it means 'latest' or 'most recent'. For example, la dernière version (the latest version) or le dernier modèle (the latest model).

💡 * As-tu lu son dernier article ? (Have you read his latest article?)* C'est la dernière mise à jour du système. (This is the latest system update.)* Ils ont présenté leur dernière collection au défilé. (They presented their latest collection at the fashion show.)* J'attends avec impatience le dernier épisode de ma série préférée. (I'm eagerly awaiting the latest episode of my favorite series.)

The 'new' implying freshness, often for food or news – frais/fraîche

The French adjective frais (masculine singular) and fraîche (feminine singular) primarily translates to 'fresh' in English, indicating something recently made, gathered, or new.

Like many French adjectives, frais agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The masculine plural form is also frais, while the feminine plural is fraîches.

It's widely used to describe food that is newly harvested or prepared (e.g., du pain frais, de la salade fraîche), but also for fresh air (l'air frais) or recent news (des nouvelles fraîches).

Frais can also mean 'cool' or 'chilly', often referring to a pleasant coolness rather than extreme cold. For example, il fait frais means 'it's cool' or 'it's chilly'.

💡 * J'adore manger du poisson frais. (I love to eat fresh fish.)

Elle a acheté des fleurs fraîches ce matin. (She bought fresh flowers this morning.)

Ouvrez la fenêtre pour laisser entrer l'air frais. (Open the window to let in the fresh air.)

As-tu entendu les dernières nouvelles fraîches? (Have you heard the latest fresh news?)

Il fait frais ce matin, n'oubliez pas votre veste. (It's cool this morning, don't forget your jacket.)

The 'new' referring to a first-time event or beginning – inaugural/inaugurale

In French, the concept of 'new' isn't expressed by a single word. Instead, different words are used depending on the nuance. This section focuses on the 'new' that refers to a first-time event or beginning, such as an inaugural ceremony or a first flight.

To express 'new' in the sense of being inaugural or marking a first-time event, the French words are inaugural (for masculine nouns) and inaugurale (for feminine nouns). These adjectives directly translate to 'inaugural' in English and are used to describe something that is happening for the very first time, especially in a formal or official context.

You'll often encounter inaugural and inaugurale when speaking about significant first-time occurrences. Common phrases include a vol inaugural (inaugural flight), a séance inaugurale (inaugural session), or a discours inaugural (inaugural speech). These terms emphasize the commencement or opening of something important.

Like many French adjectives, inaugural must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For masculine singular nouns, use inaugural. For feminine singular nouns, use inaugurale. The plural forms are inauguraux (masculine plural) and inaugurales (feminine plural).

💡 * Le vol inaugural a été un grand succès. (The inaugural flight was a great success.)

La séance inaugurale du Parlement aura lieu demain. (The inaugural session of Parliament will take place tomorrow.)

Elle a assisté à la conférence inaugurale. (She attended the inaugural conference.)

C'est le discours inaugural du président. (It's the president's inaugural speech.)

Are there other ways to say 'new' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'new' in French, nouveau and neuf. But French, like any language, is rich with nuances! You'll find other terms, from formal ones to regional ones, and even up-and-coming slang this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for 'comment dire nouveau en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for nouveau or neuf on various lists. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it to ensure proper usage.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express 'new' in various situations.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of 'new' things, or words related to newness in French, the WordReference entry for nouveau is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of André Gide: Ce qui est nouveau est toujours bon. (What is new is always good.)

9 ways to say "new" in French