Let’s say you want to describe someone’s personality in French. Is this person generous? An extrovert or an introvert? Calm or confident, principled or practical? The following list of French adjectives will help you find just the word you’re looking for to describe personal qualities and characteristics. It’s a great resource for learning adjectives in French, too!
If you need some orientation on how to form adjectives in French, look no further than our step-by-step guide.
Overview
- The most important personality traits in French
- Positive personality traits in French
- Neutral personality traits in French
- Negative personality traits in French
The most important personality traits in French – If you only need the essential adjectives
courageux/ courageuse = brave
créatif/créative = creative
gentil/ gentille = nice, kind
honnête = honest
intelligent/ intelligente = intelligent
inventif/ inventive = inventive
poli/ polie = polite
sage = wise
sincère = sincere
talentueux/ talentueuse = talented
réservé/ réservée = reserved
strict/ stricte = strict
timide = shy, timid
désordonné/ désordonnée = messy
ennuyeux/ ennuyeuse = dull, boring
intolérant/ intolérante = intolerant
malveillant/ malveillante = malicious
méchant/ méchante = mean
naïf/ naïve = naive
A comprehensive list of personality traits in French
Positive personality traits
affable = affable
aimable = nice, kind
ambitieux (m)/ ambitieuse (f) = ambitious
athlétique = athletic
attentionné/ attentionnée = caring
autonome = autonomous
assuré/ assurée = confident
aventureux/ aventureuse = adventurous (attention: no “d” in the French version!)
bienveillant/ bienveillante = benevolent
calme = calm (attention: this is used for both genders – you can’t use “calm” with masculine subjects!)
capable = capable, able
charismatique = charismatic
charmant/ charmante = charming
chic = elegant
compétent/ compétente = competent
consciencieux/ consciencieuse = conscientious (attention: no “t” in the French version!)
courageux/ courageuse = brave
courtois/ courtoise = courteous
créatif/créative = creative
cultivé/ cultivée = cultured
débrouillard/ débrouillarde = resourceful
désintéressé/ désintéressée = selfless
dévoué/ dévouée = dedicated; un élève très dévoué = a very dedicated student
discipliné/ disciplinée = disciplined
efficace = efficient
enthousiaste = enthousiastic
extraverti/ extravertie = extrovert
flexible = flexible
fier/ fière = proud; être fier/ fière de qn/qch = to be proud of sy/sg
franc/ franche = frank, straightforward
gai/ gaie = cheerful
gentil/ gentille = nice, kind
habile = skillful
honnête = honest
humble = humble
idéaliste = idealistic (attention: this is used for both genders – you can’t use “idéalist” with masculine subjects)
imaginatif/ imaginative = imaginative
indépendant/ indépendante = independent
industrieux, industrieuse = industrious
instruit/ instruite = educated
intelligent/ intelligente = intelligent, smart
introverti/ introvertie = introvert
inventif/ inventive = inventive
judicieux/ judicieuse = judicious
juste = fair (attention: this is used for both genders – you can’t use “just” with masculine subjects)
méthodique = methodical
modeste = modest (attention: this is used for both genders – you can’t use “modest” with masculine subjects)
organisé/ organisée = organized
persévérant/ persévérante = persistent
poli/ polie = polite
sage = wise
sentimental/ sentimentale = sentimental
sérieux/ sérieuse = serious
serviable = helpful
sincère = sincere
sympathique (or: sympa in familiar speech) = likeable, nice
talentueux/ talentueuse = talented
tolérant/ tolérante = tolerant
vif/ vive = quick, sharp
Neutral personality traits in French
audacieux/ audacieuse = daring
bavard/ bavarde = chatty
croyant/ croyante = a believer/ religious
enfantin/ enfantine = childlike
énigmatique = enigmatic
fantasque = whimsical
imaginatif/ imaginative = imaginative
obéissant/ obéissante = obedient
oublieux/ oublieuse = forgetful
réservé/ réservée = reserved
rêveur/ rêveuse = dreamy (or absent-minded) (but: “dream-like” – e.g., an object: un(e) … qui fait rêver)
strict/ stricte = strict
secret/ secrète = secretive; être secret/ secrète sur qch = to be secretive about sg
timide = shy, timid
Negative personality traits in French
amoral/ amorale = amoral
arrogant/ arrogante = arrogant
avide = greedy (for money, power, etc.); être avide de qc = to be greedy for…
brusque = blunt, rude
conformiste = conformist
déloyal/ déloyale = disloyal; être déloyal/ déloyale envers qn = to be disloyal to someone
désordonné/ désordonnée = messy
désorganisé/ désorganisée = disorganized
distrait/ distraite = absent-minded
ennuyeux/ ennuyeuse = dull, boring
entêté/ entêtée = stubborn
* hargneux/ hargneuse (h aspiré!) = belligerent, aggressive
impatient/ impatiente = impatient
imprudent/ imprudente = imprudent
indiscret/ indiscrète = indiscreet
intolérant/ intolérante = intolerant
irrévérencieux/ irrévérencieuse = irreverent
maladroit/ maladroite = clumsy
malpoli/ malpolie = rude
malveillant/ malveillante = malicious
méchant/ méchante = mean
morne = gloomy, joyless
naïf/ naïve = naive
narcissique = narcissistic
négligent / négligente = careless
obstiné/ obstinée = obstinate
odieux/ odieuse = heinous, detestable
paresseux/ paresseuse = lazy
pointilleux/ pointilleuse = punctilious, fussy
puéril/ puérile = childish (both pejorative and neutral usage)
tatillon/ tatillonne = finicky, pedantic, fussy
vaniteux/ vaniteuse = conceited, vain