FRANÇAIS How can I tell neuf as in new apart from neuf as in nine?
I just found out that Pont Neuf translates to 'New Bridge'
I always thought that it was 'Ninth Bridge'
Why isn't is 'Pont Nouveau'?
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Hi!
In different contexts the meaning would be made obvious. "il a un chapeau neuf" can't possibly mean "he has a nine hat".
The ninth bridge would probably have been "le neuvième pont" or "le pont n° (numéro) 9".
"Nouveau" is more seldom used for "new" in place names: Villeneuve, Châteauneuf etc are very common in France.
Pont Neuf is Bridge Nine. Neuve is the feminine but pont is a masculine word so it is neuf. Ninth would be neuvième . It is just number nine.
Nouvelle or nouveau are the masculine and feminine for NEW
It is similar to differentiating "ate" from "eight". The context of the sentence should direct your choice of definition. For instance, I ate eight eggs this morning.