French basic colors vocabulary to help you describe the world around you, plus example sentences to see how each color is used in context.
French color vocabulary is essential for describing everything from clothes and objects to nature and feelings. Plus, French colors agree in gender and number, so the endings change depending on what you’re describing. Here are the most common colors you’ll need to get started:
+ Basic colors cover the most common shades you’ll see every day.
+ Example sentences show how to use each color in context.
+ Gender and number notes help you make your color words agree correctly.
Basic Colors
Here are the most common color words in French, along with examples using them:
| French Color | English Color | Example: French | Example: English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | red | J’ai un pull rouge. | I have a red sweater. |
| bleu / bleue | blue | Le ciel est bleu. | The sky is blue. |
| jaune | yellow | Les fleurs sont jaunes. | The flowers are yellow. |
| vert / verte | green | Il a un sac vert. | He has a green bag. |
| noir / noire | black | Elle porte une robe noire. | She’s wearing a black dress. |
| blanc / blanche | white | Nous avons une table blanche. | We have a white table. |
| gris / grise | gray | La voiture est grise. | The car is gray. |
| marron | brown | Le chien est marron. | The dog is brown. |
| orange | orange | J’aime les oranges. | I like oranges. |
| rose | pink | Elle aime le rose. | She likes pink. |
Usage Notes
- Gender agreement: Add -e for feminine (e.g., bleu → bleue).
- Number agreement: Add -s for plural (e.g., rouge → rouges).
- Exceptions: marron, orange, and rose don’t change form.
Which French colors do NOT change in feminine or plural form?
marron, orange, rose
‘Marron’, ‘orange’, and ‘rose’ are exceptions and do not change form for gender or number.
Example Sentences Summary
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| J’ai un pull rouge. | I have a red sweater. |
| Le ciel est bleu. | The sky is blue. |
| Les fleurs sont jaunes. | The flowers are yellow. |
| Il a un sac vert. | He has a green bag. |
| Elle porte une robe noire. | She’s wearing a black dress. |
| Nous avons une table blanche. | We have a white table. |
| La voiture est grise. | The car is gray. |
| Le chien est marron. | The dog is brown. |
| J’aime les oranges. | I like oranges. |
| Elle aime le rose. | She likes pink. |
With these basic colors, you can start describing the world in French. Happy learning!
Translate the following sentence into English: 'Elle porte une robe noire.'
She’s wearing a black dress.
‘Elle porte une robe noire.’ means ‘She’s wearing a black dress.’ The color ‘noire’ is the feminine form of ‘noir’ (black).
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- English Color: red
- Example: English: I have a red sweater.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
