Masculine and Feminine with Colors

Question

I did a search on this and couldn't find the answer I was looking for. If I failed to put in the right words, and it has been asked before--I am sorry.

I'm having problems with some of the colors when it comes to masculine and feminine. Words like blanco are easy, and I know that verde is the same in the masculine and feminine.

However, what about marrón? Is that like verde? Also, I am aware of both naranja and anaranjado. However, I noticed in the dictionary that naranja the color was considered masculine. If this is the case, can I use it with a feminine noun?

Answer 1

I think this might be a little better. Spanish language Be sure to scroll down.

That is Such a useful website! Thanks! - mesellers, Dec 12, 2012

Great job, Annie! - francobollo, Dec 12, 2012

Gracias. y de nada! - rac1, Dec 12, 2012

I don't even know most of those colors in Spanish!! - Hokuten, Dec 12, 2012

Whoa! That is a site for Crayola enthusiasts! Thanks! - jlgluvslara, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 2

Great page rac.

In general, I think the unifying theme is that the colors ending in a consonant or ´e´ are invariate across gender, but add an ´es´ or ´e´ respectively, in the plural forms.

I remember our prof last semester talking about another phrase for brown, which didn´t change at all, which was, I believe, ¨de color café¨

Can anyone refresh us on that validity of that? It´s kind of foggy for me now.

roger

"De color café", as an adjectival clause would have to agree in total with its substantive. Happily we just don't do this so the components of the clause are exempt from agreeing. - geofc, Dec 11, 2012

verde and verdes / celeste and celestes . And then you have gris and grises. Azul and azules and so on. - francobollo, Dec 12, 2012

Answer 3

Here is something that should help with that. Spanish Colors

Excellent! - francobollo, Dec 11, 2012

Thank you!! - jlgluvslara, Dec 11, 2012

Why is violet different? Does anyone know? The only one that has no plural forms. - geofc, Dec 11, 2012

Look at my second link. - rac1, Dec 11, 2012

Answer 4

Well, then to add to the difficulty is that with brown at least--there are different words that you use for hair and skin color. If I recall, moreno and morena are used for hair and skin colors.

Castaño is used for chestnut brown but is not good for regular brown. I've rarely seen café used for the color brown, though I believe it can be.

So true! - francobollo, Dec 12, 2012