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 |
If you want to describe a color as 'pale yellow,' which word would you use?
amarillo pálido
'Pálido' means 'pale' or faint, so 'amarillo pálido' means 'pale yellow.'
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 |
Which phrase means "pale pink flowers" in Spanish?
flores rosa pálido
'Rosa pálido' means "pale pink," so "flores rosa pálido" refers to 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.
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Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
