Colors are an essential part of everyday language and a good way to start building your French vocabulary. Whether you’re describing the beauty of a sunset, picking out clothes, or simply enjoying a colorful painting, knowing how to name and use colors in French is invaluable.
Basic Colors in French
Here are the most common colors in French with their English translations
red
rouge
pink
rose
orange
orange
yellow
jaune
brown
marron
beige
beige
blue
bleu
light blue
bleu clair
dark blue
bleu foncé
turquoise
turquoise
purple
violet
lilac
mauve
green
vert
white
blanc
black
noir
gray
gris
Gender and Agreement of Colors
In French, colors must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Most color adjectives have a masculine and a feminine form.
Masculine: “Le chat noir” – The black cat
Feminine: “La robe noire” – The black dress
Some colors, such as “orange” and “marron,” are invariable, meaning they do not change form regardless of the gender or number of the noun.
Plural Forms
To make colors plural, you generally add an -s to the singular form, unless the color is invariable:
Singular: “Le livre bleu” – The blue book
Plural: “Les livres bleus” – The blue books
Describing Shades and Tones
French offers many ways to describe different shades and tones of colors:
Clair (light): “Bleu clair” – Light blue
Foncé (dark): “Vert foncé” – Dark green
Common Expressions with Colors
Colors are also used in French idiomatic expressions. Here are a few examples:
- Voir rouge: To get angry.
- Être vert de jalousie: To be very jealous.
- Avoir une peur bleue: To be very scared.