"Es azul" vs "Es de color azul"

Question

Buenos días,

I would like to know if there is a difference between "El coche es azul" and "El coche es de color azul".

Are these exactly the same or is there a subtle difference?

Any help much appreciated.

All the best, Rangi

Thank you everyone for your help, muchas gracias! - Rangi, Sep 9, 2015

Answer 1

I appreciate the answer posted by Feliz above, but in my opinion ,, it is more natural to say " "es de color azul" intead of saying "es azul" or you can say .. "es el coche azul"

This is what I had read somewhere, I don't remember where ,, but perhaps some native friend could clarify the doubt ..

I would prefer saying .. "es de color azul" as against "es azul" .. (as opposed to how we say in English)..

:) - ian-hill, Sep 9, 2015

Answer 2

El coche es azul. - The car is blue. El coche es de color azul. - The car is of colour blue. The same thing said in a different ways. The first would seem more natural to say. There is also El coche azul. - The blue car.

El coche es de color azul = The car is a blue colour I agree with you that the first option is / sounds more natural :) - FELIZ77, Sep 9, 2015

So is there any reason why "es de color azul" would actually be used in Spanish? In English we would never say "is of colour blue". - Rangi, Sep 9, 2015

I think that on refflection Joydeep is right Es de color azul is more natural - FELIZ77, Sep 9, 2015

Answer 3

Spanish version: Yes, the Spanish would say: El coche es de color azul =The car is blue

They could also say: Tengo un coche azul = I have a blue car

I am not aware of any subtle difference in the meaning but I will ask my native Spanish teacher for you when I next see her. /talk to her.

A Spanish native might ask:

¿De qué color son tus ojos? = What colour are your eyes?

There is no reason why they should follow the Eglish way to ask questions, /express ideas, etc...

English version;

The first sentence is more natural in English The car is blue.

It seems superfluous (unnecessary/redundant) to me in most situations to even mention the word 'colour' in English as it is obvious to most people that blue is a colour!

An exception in English might be if you were wanting to emphasize a contrast or add further information to clarify the point you are trying to make :

eg: The car is a bright blue but has shades of other colours.

I hope this helps