Describing color in Spanish means knowing the basic color words, using adjectives correctly, and having some help with words and phrases for shades and tones.
Basic Color Words
These are the most common color words in Spanish. They are adjectives and usually come after the noun.
- rojo – red
- azul – blue
- verde – green
- amarillo – yellow
- negro – black
- blanco – white
- marrón – brown
- gris – gray
- naranja – orange
- rosa – pink
- morado – purple
- celeste – light blue
These can be used to describe any noun (for example, la camisa roja – the red shirt).
Color Adjectives Agreement
In Spanish, color adjectives must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they describe.
- Add -a for feminine (if the adjective is masculine by default)
- Add -s for plural
- Example: libro rojo (red book), casa roja (red house), libros rojos (red books), casas rojas (red houses)
Most color words follow this rule, but some (like marrón, naranja, and gris) just add -s for plural and don’t change for gender.
Shades and Modifiers
These words help you be more specific about the color:
- claro / clara – light (e.g., azul claro = light blue)
- oscuro / oscura – dark (e.g., verde oscuro = dark green)
- brillante – bright (e.g., rojo brillante = bright red)
- pastel – pastel (e.g., rosa pastel = pastel pink)
- intenso / intensa – intense (e.g., azul intenso = intense blue)
- carmesí – crimson
- turquesa – turquoise
- beige – beige
- metalizado / metalizada – metallic (e.g., plata metalizada = metallic silver)
These modifiers come after the color noun, just like color adjectives: camisa azul claro, pintura verde oscuro.
Useful Phrases
Here are some common phrases to help you describe color situations:
- de color [color] – of [color] (formal, more descriptive)
- un vestido de color rojo* – a dress of red color
- tener color de... – to have the color of...
- La fruta tiene color de naranja.* – The fruit is the color of an orange.
- parecer [color] – to look [color]
- La pared parece blanca.* – The wall looks white.
- estar pintado / pintada de... – to be painted [color]
- La puerta está pintada de azul.* – The door is painted blue.
- de un tono... – in a shade/tone...
- La blusa es de un tono rosa suave.* – The blouse is in a soft pink tone.
- con toques de... – with touches of...
- El cuadro tiene toques de dorado.* – The painting has touches of gold.
These phrases make your color descriptions more natural and detailed.
Summary
You can describe color in Spanish by:
- Memorizing the basic color words
- Using adjective agreement rules (gender and number)
- Adding shade/quality words like claro, oscuro, or brillante
- Using useful phrases to compare, specify, or embellish your descriptions
This gives you a strong foundation for talking about color in any situation.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
