Describing color in French, including color vocabulary, adjectives, and example sentences for everyday use.
Welcome to the French vocabulary lesson on Describing Color. This section will guide you through essential color words, how to use them as adjectives, and example sentences to help you describe objects, clothing, and more in everyday conversations.
Here are some of the most common colors in French, along with example sentences to show how they’re used.
| French Color | English Color | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | red | La pomme est rouge. | The apple is red. |
| bleu / bleue | blue | Le ciel est bleu. | The sky is blue. |
| vert / verte | green | La salade est verte. | The salad is green. |
| jaune | yellow | Le citron est jaune. | The lemon is yellow. |
| noir / noire | black | Le chat est noir. | The cat is black. |
| blanc / blanche | white | La neige est blanche. | The snow is white. |
| orange | orange | L’orange est orange. | The orange is orange. |
| rose | pink | La fleur est rose. | The flower is pink. |
| violet / violette | purple | Le gâteau est violet. | The cake is purple. |
| marron | brown | Le chien est marron. | The dog is brown. |
Le chat est _____.
How do you say 'The cat is black' in French?
noir
The correct adjective for 'black' is 'noir' (masculine singular), so the sentence is 'Le chat est noir.'
In French, color words are adjectives and usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
Gender Agreement
Masculine singular*: bleu
Feminine singular: bleue
| Masculine | Feminine | Example (M) | Example (F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | rouge | Un stylo rouge. | Une voiture rouge. |
| bleu | bleue | Un ciel bleu. | Une jupe bleue. |
| vert | verte | Un pull vert. | Une robe verte. |
| noir | noire | Un chat noir. | Une chatte noire. |
| blanc | blanche | Un mur blanc. | Une porte blanche. |
Note: Some colors like orange, rose, and marron do not change for gender.
Number Agreement
Singular*: bleue
Plural: bleues
| Singular | Plural | Example (Sg) | Example (Pl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | rouges | Une pomme rouge. | Des pommes rouges. |
| bleu | bleus / bleues | Un pull bleu. | Des pulls bleus. |
| vert | verts / vertes | Une jupe verte. | Des jupes vertes. |
| noir | noirs / noires | Un chat noir. | Des chats noirs. |
| blanc | blancs / blanches | Un mur blanc. | Des murs blancs. |
Des chats _____
Choose the correct plural form for a group of black cats (male or mixed group).
noirs
For masculine plural (or mixed groups), add -s to the masculine form: 'noirs'.
French also has vocabulary for describing different shades and qualities of colors, such as “light,” “dark,” and “bright.”
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| clair / claire | light | Une robe bleue claire. | A light blue dress. |
| foncé / foncée | dark | Un pull vert foncé. | A dark green sweater. |
| vif / vive | bright | Une couleur rouge vive. | A bright red color. |
| pastel | pastel | Des couleurs pastel. | Pastel colors. |
| brillant / brillante | shiny | Un sac noir brillant. | A shiny black bag. |
| mat / mate | matte | Un vernis à ongles mat. | A matte nail polish. |
Here are some useful French expressions that involve colors:
| French Phrase | English Meaning | Example (French) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| en couleur | in color | Le film est en couleur. | The movie is in color. |
| avoir une couleur de ... | to have the color of ... | Elle a une couleur de peau claire. | She has light skin. |
| voir la vie en rose | see life through rose-colored glasses | Il voit toujours la vie en rose. | He always sees life in pink. |
| tirer sur ... | to have a hint of ... | Le mur tire sur le bleu. | The wall has a hint of blue. |
Elle a une couleur de peau claire.
She has light skin tone.
'Couleur de peau claire' means 'light skin tone.'
Here are some example sentences to practice using color adjectives correctly:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’ai acheté une robe rouge. | I bought a red dress. |
| Les feuilles sont jaunes en automne. | The leaves are yellow in autumn. |
| Elle porte des chaussures noires. | She’s wearing black shoes. |
| Nous avons des chaises blanches. | We have white chairs. |
| Il y a des fleurs violettes dans le jardin. | There are purple flowers in the garden. |
You’ve learned:
- Common French color vocabulary
- How to match color adjectives in gender and number
- Words for describing shades: light, dark, bright, pastel, shiny, matte
- Common French phrases involving colors
- Practice sentences for everyday conversation
Keep practicing by describing colors around you in French. The more you use these words, the more natural it will become!
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English Color: red
- English Example: The apple is red.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
