Individuelles

Individuelles is the feminine plural form of the French adjective individuel, meaning that it describes something related to or tailored for a specific individual or group of individuals. It is used when modifying feminine plural nouns, for example: solutions individuelles, approches individuelles, or méthodes éducatives qui sont adaptées de manière individuelle. The nuance conveyed is one of personalization or specificity rather than a generic, one-size-fits-all approach.

In practice, the term appears across various domains such as education, health care, consumer markets, and public policy to signal personalized or customized options. For instance, programmes can be described as 'accompagnement individuel' (singular) or 'plans individuels' (plural), while marketing may emphasize 'produits individuels' or 'services individuels' to highlight customization.

Etymology and forms: individuel derives from Latin individuum through Old French and Middle French developments. Beyond the feminine plural form 'individuelles', the related forms include masculine singular 'individuel', feminine singular 'individuelle', and masculine plural 'individuels'. When used as an adjective, these forms agree with the noun they modify.

Usage notes: In French, adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun. Therefore, 'individuelles' attaches to feminine plural nouns. When the concept is treated as a noun rather than an adjective, French usually uses other constructions (for example, l’individuel as a nominalized form) rather than a bare plural adjective.

See also: individuel, individuelle, individuation, personnalisation.