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Spanish Colors

Color names in Spanish are adjectives (words that describe) that are always placed after the noun (object, thing, etc.) they modify.
spanish colors chart
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The colors amarillo, rojo, negro and blanco must agree in gender and in number with the noun they describe. What does this mean?

It means that if the noun they describe is feminine, they must be feminine, and if that same word is also plural, they will be feminine and plural.

The colors naranja, rosa, lila, verde, azul, gris, marrón and beis must agree only in number with the noun they describe.

  • amarillo/a/os/as (yellow)
  • blanco/a/os/as (white)
  • negro/a/os/as (black)
  • rojo/a/os/as (red)
  • azul/es (blue)
  • gris/es (gray)
  • naranja/s (orange)
  • lila/s (purple)
  • rosa/s (pink)
  • verde/s (green)
  • marrón/ones (brown)
  • beis (beige)

How to Use the Colors in Spanish

Colors are adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe, and they usually describe nouns.

What’s a noun? I like Merriam-Webster’s definition: “A noun is a word that refers to a thing (book), a person (Betty Crocker), an animal (cat), a place (Omaha), a quality (softness), an idea (justice), or an action (yodeling).”

Color names in Spanish can be used to describe nouns and to refer to them. Let’s see how!

Colors to Describe Nouns

In Spanish, colors appear after the noun they describe.
  • la camiseta blanca (correct)
  • la blanca camiseta (incorrect)
The colors amarillo, rojo, negro and blanco must agree in gender and in number with the noun they describe.
  • la camiseta negra
  • el gorro negro
  • las camisetas negras
  • los gorros negros
The colors naranja, rosa, lila, verde, azul, gris, marrón and beis must agree only in number with the noun they describe.
  • la camiseta naranja
  • el gorro naranja
  • las camisetas naranjas
  • los gorros naranjas
If you use the verbs ser or estar to describe nouns with colors, they must follow the aforementioned rules.
  • Mi goma es rosa.
  • El cielo está azul.
  • Sus tijeras son verdes.
  • Mis ojos están rojos.

Colors to Refer to Nouns

You can use the Spanish articles el, la, los, las + an adjective to refer to a noun without mentioning the noun. El azul is like saying in English, “The blue one”.
  •  el coche negro → el negro
  • la falda roja → la roja
  • los calcetines blancos → los blancos
  • las medias rosas → las rosas

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