"Blue" in Spanish

Quick Answer

Blue in Spanish can be azul, amoratado, triste, deprimido, demócrata, coloradoor even verde! It all depends on what you’re talking about. Read on and learn about the different ways to say blue in Spanish!

Let’s Talk about Colors: Blue as an Adjective

When describing something that's blue in color in Spanish, you'll use azul most of the time! Let’s see some examples:

examples
Las tazas son azules. The cups are blue.
Mi camisa es azul. My shirt is blue.
Adriana lleva un vestido azul. Adriana’s wearing a blue dress.

Wait, No Azula?

Adjectives in Spanish usually have to match the nouns they describe in gender and number. However, there are exceptions to the rule, such as azul! Since azul ends in l, it has one form for the singular and one for the plural, regardless of the gender of the noun it describes. Take a look!

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	el ojo azul(the blue eye)	los ojos azules(the blue eyes)
Feminine	la camisa azul(the blue shirt)	las camisas azules(the blue shirts)

Ser and Estar with Adjectives

Ser(to be) is used instead of estarto describe the color of an object when we’re talking about a permanent state. However, when we refer to something temporary, then we use estar.

examples
El cielo está azul otra vez. Ya no está nublado. The sky is blue again. It’s not cloudy any longer.
Las nomeolvides son azules. Forget-me-nots are blue.

To describe something that is blue from cold or black and blue as a result of bruising, you can use the word amoratado.

examples
Tienes los labios amoratados por el frío. Your lips are blue from the cold.
Los luchadores tenían los ojos amoratados después de la pelea. The fighters' eyes were black and blue after the fight.

Let’s Talk about Colors: Blue as a Noun

When talking about the name of colors, blue in Spanish is azul. So, if someone asks you ¿Cuál es tu color favorito?(What is your favorite color?) and it’s blue, your answer will be el azul.

For example:

examples
El azul mi color favorito. Blue is my favorite color.
Si mezclas azul y rojo, obtienes violeta. If you mix blue and red, you get violet.

Much More Than Blue in Spanish

We use colors to express our preferences, describe our surroundings, and talk about human attributes. So, let’s check out some basic color terms that go beyond blue in Spanish.

Spanish	English
amarillo	yellow
blanco	white
café	brown
gris	gray
marrón	brown
morado/ púrpura	purple
naranja/ anaranjado	orange
negro	black
rojo	red
rosado/ rosa	pink
verde	green
violeta	violet

Expressing Preferences and Describing Surroundings

One of the easiest ways to practice colors in Spanish is to talk about your preferences and describe your surroundings. For example:

examples
¿Te gusta esta falda? - Sí, pero me gustaría más si fuera azul. Do you like this skirt? - Yes, but I'd like it better if it was blue.
El cielo es azul. The sky is blue.
Andrea se puso un abrigo azul. Andrea is wearing a blue coat.

Talking about States of Mind: Blue in Spanish

When used to describe a state of mind, blue in Spanish can either be triste(sad) or deprimido(depressed), which are both adjectives. Have a look at these examples:

examples
¿Qué te pasa? - No sé, estoy triste. What’s wrong with you? - I don’t know; I’m feeling blue.
Siempre me siento deprimido cuando llueve. I always feel blue when it rains.

Blue in Spanish in Politics

In the context of United States politics, blue in Spanish is demócratawhen used to refer to the Democratic party.

examples
Ese es un estado demócrata, así que estas propuestas educativas serán bien recibidas. That’s a blue state, so these educational policies will be well-received.

Blue in Spanish Meaning Off-Color or Vulgar

When used to describe something slightly indecent or risqué, blue in Spanish may be translated as verde(literally, green) or colorado(literally, red) in Mexican Spanish. Here are some examples:

examples
No puedo creer que Mauro contara un chiste verde en la reunión. I can’t believe Mauro told a blue joke at the meeting.
Me parece que la historia que cuentas es bastante colorada. I think that story you’re telling is a bit blue.

Want to learn more about how to use color terms in Spanish? Check out these articles!

“Brown” in Spanish

“Purple” in Spanish

“Orange” in Spanish

“Red” in Spanish

Quick Tips for Understanding “Ser” and “Estar”

Using “Ser” with Descriptions