Los colores (colours)

Click links for a worksheet Los colores……Los colores extra practice

Why Learn Colors in Spanish?

Colors are everywhere! They’re an integral part of our daily lives, from describing what we’re wearing to identifying items in our surroundings. Mastering colors in Spanish not only helps you describe things more vividly but also enhances your overall communication skills in the language.

Basic Colors (pronunciation guide)

• Red – Rojo
  Pronunciation: ROH-ho
  Rojo is pronounced with a soft “h” sound, similar to the English “h” but softer. The “o” is pronounced like the “o” in “go.”
• Blue – Azul
  Pronunciation: ah-SOOL
  The “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father,” and “zul” sounds like “sool” with a soft “s.”
• Yellow – Amarillo
  Pronunciation: ah-mah-REE-yoh
  The “a” is like the “a” in “father,” “mar” is pronounced with a rolling “r,” and “illo” is pronounced with a soft “y” sound.
• Green – Verde
  Pronunciation: VER-day
  The “e” in “verde” is pronounced like the “e” in “bet,” and the “r” is rolled slightly. The final “e” is pronounced like “ay” in “day.”
• Black – Negro
  Pronunciation: NEH-groh
  The “e” is like the “e” in “bet,” and the “r” is rolled slightly. The “o” is pronounced like the “o” in “go.”
• White – Blanco
  Pronunciation: BLAN-ko
  The “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father,” and “co” is pronounced with a hard “o” sound, similar to “go.”
• Orange – Naranja
  Pronunciation: nah-RAHN-hah
  The “a” is like the “a” in “father,” the “j” is pronounced like the “h” in “hello,” and the “a” at the end is soft.
• Purple – Morado
  Pronunciation: moh-RAH-doh
  The “o” is pronounced like the “o” in “go,” “ra” is pronounced with a rolled “r,” and the “do” has a soft “o.”
• Pink – Rosa
  Pronunciation: ROH-sah
  The “o” is pronounced like the “o” in “go,” and the “s” is soft. The final “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father.”
• Brown – depending on the country, some call this colour Marrón and others Café
  • Marrón: mah-RROHN
    The “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father,” the “r” is rolled, and the final “ón” sounds like “own” with a nasal quality.
  • Café: kah-FAY
    The “a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father,” and “fé” is pronounced like “fay” in “day.”

Tips for learning colours

• Repeat Out Loud: Practice pronouncing each color multiple times.
• Describe Objects: Practice describing things around you in Spanish.
• Use Flashcards: Write the color on one side and the pronunciation on the other.
• Listen and Imitate: Listen to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation.
• Use visual aids: Use pictures or objects to associate colors with their Spanish names. For instance, you could look at a red apple and say, “Este es un manzana roja.” Associating visual cues with vocabulary makes it easier to remember.
• Watch Spanish Media: Pay attention to how colors are used in Spanish films, shows, or videos.
• Interactive Activities – practice using colours in context. try simple sentences. Try making simple sentences, this helps solidify your understanding of colours in real conversations:
• “The car is red.” (El coche es rojo.)
• “She is wearing a yellow dress.” (Ella lleva un vestido amarillo.)
• “The sky is blue.” (El cielo es azul.)
• “She has a red dress.” (Ella tiene un vestido rojo.)

• Color Matching: create flashcards with colours on one side and spanish names on the other. Test yourself or your friends.
• Coloring Sheets: Use coloring pages and label each color with its spanish name.

Practice makes perfect

Learning colors in Spanish is a stepping stone to more advanced vocabulary and conversations. When learning new words, try to incorporate them into phrases you already know, repetition is key, so have fun and don’t be afraid to use colors in your daily practice!