Brighten Up Your Vocabulary With French Colours & Their Pronunciations

29 widespread colours in French

In fact, no first listing of colours can be full with out your private favorites, so when you’ve discovered the fundamental set of colours in French, discover your favourite shades on this listing. It’s certainly not exhaustive however will brighten your vocabulary.

What are France’s colours? 

The colours of France are finest often known as bleu, blanc, et rouge (blue, white, and pink) due to the love for the nation’s flag. Nicknamed Le Tricolore (the tricolor), the flag consists of three vertical stripes of equal width in blue, white, and pink. 

Ever since its creation throughout the French Revolution, it has been a logo of a united France. White was the colour of the king, which was added to the colours of Paris — blue and pink. 

Different colours that will remind vacationers of France embody lavande (lavender), from the fields of lavender in Provence, jaune (yellow) of the tournesols (sunflowers), and noir (black), harking back to the stylish and complex type. 

Colours for describing folks

An necessary primary ability when studying French is to have the ability to describe an individual’s look. This could possibly be important for finding a lacking member of your group if somebody will get separated in a crowded space. 

Hair shade phrases in French

The fundamental colours of the rainbow gained’t suffice when describing hair shade in French. Use these phrases as a substitute. Use the phrases il a/elle a (he has/she has) with these descriptions. 

In French, the fundamental shade phrases like rouge (pink) are solely used if the hair is dyed a definite vivid pink shade, however the pure “redhead” shade known as cheveux roux. As hair coloring developments have made it widespread to see all shades of the rainbow, virtually any French shade phrase is feasible when describing hair in French. 

French phrases for eye shade

To explain eye shade, use the phrases il a/elle a (he has/she has) with these phrases.

Discover how the foundations for invariable adjectives are utilized in writing, though in spoken French you gained’t hear the distinction between bleus and bleu as a result of the “s” is silent. 

French phrases to explain pores and skin shade

To explain somebody’s pores and skin shade, use il/elle a (he/she has) and a descriptor of pores and skin tone. As in lots of cultures and languages, it’s necessary to debate bodily options like pores and skin tone with respect.

French phrases to explain colours

Let’s get particular. For those who decide up a number of extra phrases, you’ll have the ability to describe shades and tones of the fundamental French colours to speak a extra particular hue.

These phrases come after the title of the colour in a sentence: 

• Je préfère la chemise bleu clair. = I desire the gentle blue shirt. 
• Elle a une voiture jaune fluo. = She has a fluorescent yellow automotive. 
• Il portait un manteau gris foncé. = He was carrying a darkish grey coat. 

Grammar guidelines for French colours

French colours can be utilized as nouns or adjectives, identical to in English. Some grammar guidelines differ from English, together with phrase order and adjective settlement guidelines.

French adjectives usually are positioned after the noun they describe

French colours can be utilized as adjectives to explain nouns. French adjectives, with a number of exceptions, observe the noun within the sentence. 

• la chemise noire = the black shirt
• la cravate blanche = the white tie

French adjectives usually change types to match the noun they describe

French adjectives change types to match the noun they’re describing in each grammatical gender and quantity. 

In accordance with French gender guidelines, masculine nouns will take the masculine type of the colour, whereas nouns which are female will use the female type. 

• le manteau noir = the black coat
• la veste noire = the black jacket

Singular nouns require the singular type of the colour, whereas French plural adjectives are used with plural nouns. 

• les gants blancs = the white gloves
• les chaussures blanches = the white sneakers

Most French colours derived from nouns don’t change type as adjectives

Some French colours are derived from nouns, resembling flowers, meals, or treasured stones. When that is the case, many are “invariable,” which means the adjective doesn’t change to match the noun. However, as with many grammar guidelines, there are a number of exceptions to this one. A number of colours in French, resembling violet/violette (violet) and rose (pink) are derived from nouns however nonetheless observe the foundations for settlement. 

• les chaussures orange = orange socks
• les sandales crème = cream sandals

Different occasions the place colours are invariable embody: 

• once you’re describing a single object that’s multicolored
  • une cravate blanc et violet = a white and purple tie

• when utilizing modifiers for colours resembling gentle or darkish
  • des chapeaux bleu clair = gentle blue hats
  • des taxis jaune vif = vivid yellow taxis

• colours which are manufactured from a couple of phrase
  • une maison vert forêt = a forest inexperienced home
  • une voiture de sport bleu électrique = an electrical blue sports activities automotive

Colours as nouns are masculine

Whereas we usually consider colours as adjectives, which is true once they’re describing a noun, they will also be nouns themselves. When used as a noun, colours are masculine. 

• J’aime le bleu. = I like blue. 
• Elle préfère le rouge. = She prefers pink.
• Je pense que le vert est joli. = I feel inexperienced is fairly. 

Utilizing the suffix -âtre with colours in French

In English, we use the suffix “-ish” to explain a shade with nuance, resembling “greenish eyes” or “pinkish paint.” It’s not precisely that shade, however might need a touch or a shade of the colour to it. In French, an analogous suffix is -âtre. It means a shade that’s much less vibrant, off from the usual, or an undesirable model of that shade. In French, it carries extra of a unfavorable connotation.

• une peinture jaunâtre = a sickly yellowish paint
• l’eau verdâtre = a greenish water, as if from algae

See the world in French colours

Now that you simply’ve mastered quite a lot of French colours, you is likely to be seeing la vie en rose (seeing life “in pink,” or by means of an optimistic lens). Take this sense to the subsequent stage as you be taught French with Rosetta Stone. Broaden your vocabulary to incorporate nouns for clothes, equipment, presents, artistic endeavors, objects present in nature, and extra. Let colours be a pure springboard to be taught much more descriptive adjectives to brighten your dialog. Rosetta Stone may also help you categorical your self with readability and vivid element.