"The shoes are pale yellow."

Translation: Les chaussures sont jaune pâle.

[megaface]

I wrote "jaunes pâles" but this wasn't accepted - any explanation as to why?

[Ripcurlgirl]

When you use more than one adjective to designate a single color (like "light blue," "dark green," "pale pink", etc.), neither of the adjectives changes according to the noun it modifies. For example:

"Il a les yeux bleu clair et les cheveux brun foncé."
"He has light blue eyes and dark brown hair."

[ButteredCrumpets]

So when you have plural adjectives modifying plural nouns you use the singular...sigh...someday I'll figure French out :) thanks for the explanation!

[aquillaz1]

So many small rules to learn haha. Thanks!

[dhll0525]

Ok got it thx. French make me crazy~

[simianliner]

So... "Il a les yeux bleus" is correct and "Il a les yeux bleu" is incorrect because only one adjective is used?

[Ripcurlgirl]

Yes, but just to clarify. If multiple adjectives designate a single colour then they do not agree in gender of number.

However, if multiple adjective are describing different attributes, then they must agree.

For example:
"He has small blue eyes"

then, although using more than one adjective, they are describing different attributes so must agree with the noun:

Il a petits yeux bleus.

Note that petit is a BANGS adjective so comes before the noun.
I hope that is clear :-)

[simianliner]

Thank you so much :) This is very clear(ly somewhat confusing lol but).. I get it .. appreciate your reply!

[Ripcurlgirl]

Pas de souci ☺

[Jude484365]

What is a BANGS adjective?

[Ripcurlgirl]

Certain adjectives precede the noun - known as the BAGS or BANGS adjectives:

Examples:

Beauty ............ joli/jolie, beau/belle
Age .................. jeune, vieux/vieille, nouveau/nouvelle
Number .......... un(e), deux, trois, seconde, deuxième, etc
Goodness ....... mauvais/mauvaise, bon/bonne, gentil/gentille
Size .................. petit/ petite, grand/grande, gros/grosse, long/longue, énorme

[Christophe485101]

Shouldn't that be 'il a de petits yeux bleus'?

[caren527151]

What is the difference between pâle and claie

[chelhudson]

I wrote "les chaussures sont jaune claire" - what's wrong with this?? :/

[ALALADEIRI]

Please when do I pluralise my adjectives colours inclusive and when shouldn't I ?

[Michael-111]

Why isn't 'souliers' accepted for shoes?

[dmethvin]

The hint for "pale yellow" is "blonde". Maybe these shoes had hair on them?

[Emily650221]

I looked to see what options there were for pale yellow and it said blonde. A little confused why it didnt take what it suggested.

[Bbeeplaysbass]

Why is "jaune" before "pale"