Describing color in English, including basic color names, shade and tone vocabulary, and common phrases for talking about color.
Describing color is a fundamental part of everyday conversation. This guide covers basic color names, vocabulary for shades and tones, and useful phrases to describe color accurately in English.
Color Names
These are the basic color words you need to identify and talk about colors in English.
| English Singular | English Plural | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Reds | I have a red apple. | Tengo una manzana roja. |
| Blue | Blues | She is wearing a blue dress. | Ella lleva un vestido azul. |
| Yellow | Yellows | The sun is yellow. | El sol es amarillo. |
| Green | Greens | The grass is green. | La hierba es verde. |
| Black | Blacks | I need a black pen. | Necesito un bolígrafo negro. |
| White | Whites | The paper is white. | El papel es blanco. |
| Orange | Oranges | I like orange juice. | Me gusta el jugo de naranja. |
| Purple | Purples | That's a purple flower. | Eso es una flor morada. |
| Brown | Browns | She has brown hair. | Ella tiene el cabello castaño. |
| Pink | Pinks | He bought a pink shirt. | Él compró una camisa rosa. |
Shade and Tone Vocabulary
These words help you describe colors more precisely by talking about how light, dark, bright, or dull a color is.
| English Word | English Definition | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | A pale or less intense color | She has light blue eyes. | Ella tiene ojos azul claro. |
| Dark | A deep or more intense color | He wore a dark green jacket. | Él llevaba una chaqueta verde oscura. |
| Bright | A strong, vivid color | The room is painted bright yellow. | La habitación está pintada de amarillo brillante. |
| Pale | A very light color | She wore a pale pink dress. | Ella llevaba un vestido rosa pálido. |
| Deep | A rich or intense color | I prefer deep red wine. | Prefiero el vino tinto profundo. |
| Dull | A color that is not bright or shiny | The walls are dull gray. | Las paredes son gris opaco. |
| Vivid | Very clear and strong color | The artist used vivid colors. | El artista usó colores vivos. |
| Soft | A gentle, light color | The baby’s blanket is soft blue. | La manta del bebé es azul suave. |
| Muted | A color that is toned down or less intense | She likes muted earth tones. | A ella le gustan los tonos tierra apagados. |
| Neon | A very bright, glowing color | He wore a neon green shirt. | Él llevaba una camisa verde neón. |
Common Phrases for Describing Color
These phrases are useful for talking about color in more natural and detailed ways.
| English Phrase | English Explanation | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What color is it? | Asking about the color of something | What color is your car? | ¿De qué color es tu auto? |
| It’s (color) | Stating the color of something | It’s blue. | Es azul. |
| (Color) with (shade/tone) | Describing with more detail | It’s red with a hint of orange. | Es rojo con un toque de naranja. |
| Shades of (color) | Referring to different variations of a color | The painting has shades of blue. | La pintura tiene tonos de azul. |
| (Color) like (object) | Comparing a color to something familiar | Her dress is white like snow. | Su vestido es blanco como la nieve. |
| In (color) | Indicating the color of an item | The shoes come in black. | Los zapatos vienen en negro. |
| (Color)-colored | Using color as an adjective | She has green-colored eyes. | Ella tiene ojos de color verde. |
| Tinted with (color) | Describing a slight addition of color | The glass is tinted with blue. | El vidrio está teñido de azul. |
| Painted (color) | Describing something that is painted | The walls are painted yellow. | Las paredes están pintadas de amarillo. |
| Dressed in (color) | Describing what someone is wearing | She is dressed in red today. | Ella está vestida de rojo hoy. |
How do you describe a color with more detail using shade or tone?
(Color) with (shade/tone)
The correct phrase is '(Color) with (shade/tone),' as in 'red with a hint of orange.'
Conclusion
By learning basic color names, shade and tone vocabulary, and common descriptive phrases, you can confidently talk about color in English. Practice using these words and phrases in everyday conversations to improve your skills.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Singular: Red
- English Plural: Reds
- English Example: I have a red apple.
- English Example (Translated): Tengo una manzana roja.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
