# French adjective q

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-adjective-q/920350>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 11, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-adjective-q/920350 "2020-09-11T15:11:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-adjective-q/920350/1 "2020-09-11T15:11:18Z")

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It’s _feu ma tante_, but _ma feue tante_.

1. What’s the difference in meaning, if any
2. Why does the adjective agree with the noun in the second case but remain invariable in the first case? Are there other examples?

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**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-adjective-q/920350/2 "2020-09-11T16:44:48Z")

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The expression means “My late [deceased recently] aunt”. No difference in meaning.  
Another similar example is “défunt” (deceased (or inactive) for a long period of time).

Explanations (in French): [Feu et défunt - Le bon usage](http://lebonusage.over-blog.com/article-feu-et-defunt-86859314.html)