Here are the main categories and examples of how to describe color in different contexts.

Basic Color Vocabulary

The most common color words in French, along with their English equivalents and example sentences.

French Color	English Color	French Example	English Example	French Phrase	English Phrase
rouge	red	Le pomme est rouge.	The apple is red.	Je porte un pull rouge.	I’m wearing a red sweater.
bleu	blue	Le ciel est bleu.	The sky is blue.	Mes yeux sont bleus.	My eyes are blue.
jaune	yellow	La fleur est jaune.	The flower is yellow.	J’ai un sac jaune.	I have a yellow bag.
vert	green	L’herbe est verte.	The grass is green.	Il a une veste verte.	He has a green jacket.
noir	black	Le chat est noir.	The cat is black.	Elle porte une robe noire.	She’s wearing a black dress.
blanc	white	Le nuage est blanc.	The cloud is white.	J’ai une chemise blanche.	I have a white shirt.
gris	gray	Le bâtiment est gris.	The building is gray.	Il a les cheveux gris.	He has gray hair.
marron	brown	Le chocolat est marron.	The chocolate is brown.	Elle a un sac marron.	She has a brown bag.
rose	pink	La rose est rose.	The rose is pink.	J’aime les vêtements roses.	I like pink clothes.
orange	orange	L’orange est orange.	The orange is orange.	Il mange une orange.	He’s eating an orange.
violet	purple	La fleur est violette.	The flower is purple.	J’ai un pull violet.	I have a purple sweater.

Clothing and Fashion

Colors commonly used in clothing descriptions, including how to make them agree in gender and number.

French Color	English Color	French Example	English Example	French Phrase	English Phrase
rouge	red	Elle porte une robe rouge.	She’s wearing a red dress.	J’ai un manteau rouge.	I have a red coat.
bleu	blue	Il a des jeans bleus.	He has blue jeans.	Elle porte un chapeau bleu.	She’s wearing a blue hat.
noir	black	Je porte des chaussures noires.	I’m wearing black shoes.	Il a un pull noir.	He has a black sweater.
blanc	white	Elle a une chemise blanche.	She has a white shirt.	Nous portons des pantalons blancs.	We’re wearing white pants.
gris	gray	Il porte un costume gris.	He’s wearing a gray suit.	J’ai un pull gris.	I have a gray sweater.
rose	pink	Elle aime les jupes roses.	She likes pink skirts.	J’ai un tee-shirt rose.	I have a pink t-shirt.
marron	brown	Il a une ceinture marron.	He has a brown belt.	Elle porte des bottes marron.	She’s wearing brown boots.
beige	beige	J’ai un manteau beige.	I have a beige coat.	Elle porte un pantalon beige.	She’s wearing beige pants.

Colors often used to describe natural objects like plants, animals, and the sky.

French Color	English Color	French Example	English Example	French Phrase	English Phrase
vert	green	Les feuilles sont vertes.	The leaves are green.	L’herbe est verte.	The grass is green.
bleu	blue	Le ciel est bleu.	The sky is blue.	L’océan est bleu foncé.	The ocean is dark blue.
brun	brown	Le tronc est brun.	The trunk is brown.	L’écureuil est brun.	The squirrel is brown.
jaune	yellow	Les tournesols sont jaunes.	The sunflowers are yellow.	Les abeilles sont jaunes et noires.	The bees are yellow and black.
blanc	white	La neige est blanche.	The snow is white.	Le cygne est blanc.	The swan is white.
gris	gray	Le ciel est gris.	The sky is gray.	Le loup est gris.	The wolf is gray.
rouge	red	Les feuilles sont rouges en automne.	The leaves are red in autumn.	Le cardinal est rouge.	The cardinal is red.
violet	purple	Les violettes sont violettes.	The violets are purple.	Le coucher de soleil est violet.	The sunset is purple.

Color terms that are useful for discussing painting, interior design, and other creative fields.

French Color	English Color	French Example	English Example	French Phrase	English Phrase
blanc	white	Le fond est blanc.	The background is white.	Peins le mur en blanc.	Paint the wall white.
noir	black	Utilise du noir pour les contours.	Use black for the outlines.	Le dessin est en noir et blanc.	The drawing is in black and white.
rouge	red	Ajoute du rouge vif.	Add bright red.	Le rouge est très intense.	The red is very intense.
bleu	blue	Un bleu pastel est apaisant.	A pastel blue is soothing.	Le bleu marine est élégant.	Navy blue is elegant.
jaune	yellow	Le jaune apporte de la lumière.	Yellow adds light.	Utilise un jaune doux.	Use a soft yellow.
vert	green	Un vert olive est tendance.	Olive green is trendy.	Le vert forêt est profond.	Forest green is deep.
violet	purple	Le violet est mystérieux.	Purple is mysterious.	Un violet lavande est délicat.	Lavender purple is delicate.
rose	pink	Le rose poudré est chic.	Powder pink is chic.	Le rose saumon est doux.	Salmon pink is soft.
orange	orange	L’orange est énergique.	Orange is energetic.	Un orange brûlé est chaleureux.	Burnt orange is warm.
gris	gray	Le gris perle est élégant.	Pearl gray is elegant.	Un gris cendré est subtil.	Ash gray is subtle.

noire

noires

noirs

noir

noires

‘Noir’ is the base form. For plural feminine nouns, it becomes ‘noires’.

Colors that commonly appear in food descriptions, helping to enrich your culinary vocabulary.

French Color	English Color	French Example	English Example	French Phrase	English Phrase
rouge	red	La tomate est rouge.	The tomato is red.	Ce vin est rouge.	This wine is red.
vert	green	La salade est verte.	The salad is green.	Les haricots verts sont frais.	The green beans are fresh.
jaune	yellow	Le citron est jaune.	The lemon is yellow.	Le beurre est jaune pâle.	The butter is pale yellow.
blanc	white	Le riz est blanc.	The rice is white.	La crème est blanche.	The cream is white.
marron	brown	Le chocolat est marron.	The chocolate is brown.	Le pain est marron.	The bread is brown.
orange	orange	La carotte est orange.	The carrot is orange.	Le jus d’orange est frais.	The orange juice is fresh.
violet	purple	Le raisin est violet.	The grape is purple.	La purée de pommes de terre est violette.	The mashed potatoes are purple.
rose	pink	Le saumon est rose.	The salmon is pink.	Les bonbons sont roses.	The candies are pink.

beige

marron

noir

brun

marron

The standard color adjective for chocolate in French is ‘marron’, which is invariable.

In French, color adjectives usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
For feminine nouns, add -e (e.g., rouge → rouge, bleu → bleue).
For plural nouns, add -s (e.g., rouge → rouges, bleu → bleus).
Some colors are invariable (e.g., marron).
Example: une robe rouge (a red dress), des t-shirts bleus (blue t-shirts).

This guide should help you confidently describe colors across a range of topics in French.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025