Colours with definite article

Question

I was answering the "Colour survey" question (and yes, another Canadian!) and noticed that some answers used the definite article with the colour:

Mi color favorito es elazul

In my answer, I omitted "el". Was that grammatically incorrect?

Answer 1

There are some almost contradictory rules about using definite articles in Spanish besides the straight forward ones like with languages, titles of rulers, etc.

On the one hand, Spanish uses the definite articles with abstract nouns. La religión es... La justicia es...

On the other hand, it is used in a restrictive use with nouns. When saying el azul it can be similar to saying the blue one, or similar to cual in speaking about one of a group of things.

In our context I would say that el azul refers to blue as an abstract noun rather than beings an adjective (a blue coat) so el azul is appropriate.

In your particular sentence I would say that it helps show blue as a noun rather than as as an adjective Mi abrigo es azul. (adjective) Mi favorito color es el azul. (noun)

Answer 2

Would be better using the article. However "mi color favorito es azul" can work.