Agreement using colors- specifically rosa, naranja, violeta

Question

I'm one for detail. I searched the forum before posting this because, at first glance, agreement with adjectives or colors seems pretty basic.

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I understand agreement of adjectives and colors. Here's what I want to check.

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Paralee uses "el puerco rosa" in the SD video. She does change "violeta" to "violeto" in her instruction. She doesn't specifically address "naranja". All of these are their particular color because of the noun they refer to. I assume "naranja" doesn't change. Is that correct. Would it be correct to say "el lápiz naranja" for "the orange pencil"? If that's the case, then why doesn't "violeta" act like "naranja" and "rosa".

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Is it more common to see "el puerco de color rosa"?

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In the past I've simply used "anaranjado" and "rosado" to avoid something that I wasn't sure about.
Thanks!

Answer 1

If a color is nothing more than a color and not the name of an object, we can say simply, ie: "el puerco blanco, el puerco negro, el puerco verde, el puerco amarillo," etc. (blanco and negro are colors that have been incorrectly placed on people to represent their race but they are nothing more than colors). "El puerco (de) color rosa, el puerco rosado" are also correct. If you want to emphasize the color of the piggy, then "color rosa" is better. If you are emphasizing the piggy in its entirety, its nature, etc, then "rosado" is used.

You are correct in using "color de" or even "color ...." "El lápiz color de naranja, el lápiz anaranjado, el lápiz naranjado" are all correct.

"Violeta" is a tree and "violeto" is the fruit of that tree, so "color violeta" would be appropriate.

Comprehensive answer, thank you. - annierats, Nov 20, 2012

Thank you. I've read your answer many times just sorting it out in my head. I appreciate the comprehensive answer. - rheit, Nov 20, 2012

In this case, "café" is also an invariable adjective that requires "color (de) café". Correct? - rheit, Nov 20, 2012

"Café" is an exception. Here´s the RAE dictionary note "adj. Chile, Ec., Méx. y Ur. marrón (‖ color)." So if the word is not listed as "adj" then we must use "color" before it, but be careful - this exception is regional only - 005faa61, Nov 20, 2012

Answer 2

Some colors in Spanish are invariable adjectives. Here are some off the top of my head: celeste, turquesa, violeta, esmeralda, rosa, etc. As far as I know, "violeta" would never be said as "violeto".

Thank you. I was trying to figure out how to say what I wanted to say when I posted. "Invariable adjective" is what I needed. Also, thanks for the additional invariable adjectives. - rheit, Nov 20, 2012