French Adjectives: Present Participles

In French, present participles ending in -ant are often used as adjectives. They follow the regular pattern: add -e for the feminine and -s for the plural: décevant → décevante → décevants → décevantes. They typically describe the effect something has on a person or situation.

agaçant / agaçante annoying
attirant / attirante attractive
brûlant / brûlante scorching, burning hot
bruyant / bruyante noisy
charmant / charmante charming
collant / collante clingy, sticky
condescendant / condescendante condescending
croquant / croquante crunchy
croustillant / croustillante crispy
décevant / décevante disappointing
dégoûtant / dégoûtante disgusting
déprimant / déprimante depressing
déroutant / déroutante puzzling, disconcerting
effrayant / effrayante frightening
embarrassant / embarrassante embarrassing, awkward
embêtant / embêtante annoying
étouffant / étouffante stifling, sweltering
étonnant / étonnante astonishing, surprising
excitant / excitante exciting
frustrant / frustrante frustrating
glissant / glissante slippery
gluant / gluante slimy, gooey
gênant / gênante embarrassing, awkward, inconvenient
humiliant / humiliante humiliating
hésitant / hésitante hesitant
impressionnant / impressionnante impressive
inquiétant / inquiétante worrisome
irritant / irritante irritating
malveillant / malveillante malicious
mordant / mordante biting, cutting
nourrissant / nourrissante nourishing, filling
pesant / pesante heavy, oppressive
piquant / piquante spicy, sharp
provocant / provocante provocative
puant / puante stinky
rafraîchissant / rafraîchissante refreshing
relaxant / relaxante relaxing
séduisant / séduisante attractive, seductive
stressant / stressante stressful
suffocant / suffocante suffocating, stifling
surprenant / surprenante surprising
troublant / troublante disturbing, unsettling, troubling