Spanish vocabulary for shades and hues helps you describe colors more precisely, including words for lightening, darkening, and adding subtle tones.
Modifiers for Shades
- Use these words to talk about light, dark, or intense versions of colors.
| Light: claro/a | Light: claro/a | A color that is lighter than the original shade. | light blue - azul claro | azul claro | light blue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very: muy | Very: muy | Used to intensify the degree of a color. | very red - muy rojo | muy rojo | very red |
| Pale: pálido/a | Pale: pálido/a | A color that is faint or less intense. | pale yellow - amarillo pálido | amarillo pálido | pale yellow |
| Intense: intenso/a | Intense: intenso/a | A color that is vivid or strong. | intense purple - morado intenso | morado intenso | intense purple |
Examples of Shades
- Examples of common colors with modifiers for light and dark shades.
| Light Blue | Azul claro | A lighter shade of blue. | light blue dress - vestido azul claro | vestido azul claro | light blue dress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Green | Verde claro | A lighter shade of green. | light green walls - paredes verde claro | paredes verde claro | light green walls |
| Dark Green | Verde oscuro | A darker shade of green. | dark green leaf - hoja verde oscura | hoja verde oscura | dark green leaf |
| Pale Pink | Rosa pálido | A very light and soft pink. | pale pink flowers - flores rosa pálido | flores rosa pálido | pale pink flowers |
Descriptive Phrases
- Common phrases to describe hues and shades more naturally.
| Tone | Tono | Refers to the particular quality or character of a color. | skin tone - tono de piel | tono de piel | skin tone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hue | Matiz | A subtle variation or tint of a color. | green hue - matiz verde | matiz verde | green hue |
| Gradient | Degradado | A gradual transition between colors or shades. | color gradient - degradado de color | degradado de color | color gradient |
| Tint | Tinte | A color mixed with white, making it lighter. | pink tint - tinte rosa | tinte rosa | pink tint |
Shades and hues in Spanish are created using simple modifiers (claro, oscuro, pálido, intenso) added to the base color. This allows you to express a wide range of colors without needing unique words for each variation.
How do you say "skin tone" in Spanish?
tono de piel
'Tono de piel' means "skin tone," referring to the particular color quality of someone's skin.
Which Spanish word means "hue" or subtle variation of a color?
matiz
'Matiz' means "hue," indicating a subtle tint or variation in color.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
