French Colors: Complete Guide to Color Vocabulary

Colors in French—essential vocabulary you'll use daily. Here's the complete guide to French colors, including masculine/feminine forms and how to use them correctly.

Basic Colors

Primary Colors

• rouge (red) — rouge
• bleu (blue) — bleu
• jaune (yellow) — jaune

Secondary Colors

• vert (green) — vair
• orange (orange) — oh-RAHNZH
• violet (purple) — vee-oh-LAY

Masculine vs. Feminine Forms

Most colors have the same form for masculine and feminine nouns:

• Le livre rouge — The red book (masculine)
• La voiture rouge — The red car (feminine)

Colors That Change

Only a few colors change form:

• blanc/blanche (white)
• noir/noire (black)
• gris/grise (gray)

Examples

• Un chat blanc — A white cat (masculine)
• Une robe blanche — A white dress (feminine)

Common Colors

Essential Colors

• rouge — red
• bleu — blue
• jaune — yellow
• vert — green
• noir — black
• blanc — white
• gris — gray
• orange — orange
• rose — pink
• marron — brown
• violet — purple

Shades

• bleu clair — light blue
• bleu foncé — dark blue
• rouge foncé — dark red

Using Colors in Sentences

With Nouns

• La voiture est rouge — The car is red
• J'aime le bleu — I like blue
• Une robe verte — A green dress

Agreement Rules

• Most colors don't change (rouge, bleu, jaune)
• Some colors agree (blanc/blanche, noir/noire)
• Colors from nouns (orange, marron) don't change

Pronunciation Tips

Key Sounds

• Rouge: Roo-zh (guttural R, soft "zh")
• Bleu: Bluh (silent e)
• Jaune: Zhohn (nasal sound, "zh" like "pleasure")
• Vert: Vair (similar to English "fair")

Common Phrases

• Quelle est votre couleur préférée? — What's your favorite color?
• Je préfère le bleu — I prefer blue
• De quelle couleur est...? — What color is...?

Quick Practice (5 Minutes)

1. Name 10 colors in French.
2. Practice masculine/feminine: "un chat noir" vs "une robe noire"
3. Use colors in sentences: "La voiture est bleue"

Example: "Ma couleur préférée est le bleu. J'aime les voitures vertes."

Memory Hack

Most colors are easy to remember—they're similar to English or other Romance languages. Focus on the ones that change form (blanc/blanche, noir/noire, gris/grise).

Master French Colors

The best way to master French colors is through daily practice. Use them in real conversations, get feedback on pronunciation and agreement, and watch them become natural. Try Parlai and practice French vocabulary, including colors, through authentic conversations.