Colours in English
Basic colours and shades with meanings, example sentences, and free interactive games — ideal for A1–B1 learners.
Colours are among the very first words English learners encounter, and they stay useful at every level. From basic colours taught to children to the nuanced shade vocabulary used in fashion, art, and interior design, colour words appear constantly in everyday English.
This page covers the core colours in English plus a selection of important shade and descriptive vocabulary. Each word includes its meaning and a natural example sentence. A key point for learners: British English spells these words with a "u" (colour, favourite colour) while American English omits it (color, favorite color) — both spellings are equally correct in their respective varieties.
Colour vocabulary is also important for grammar. Colours are adjectives and usually come before the noun they describe: "a red car", "blue eyes", "a dark green jacket". When used after a linking verb, they remain adjectives: "The sky is grey." This attributive versus predicative use is a fundamental grammatical pattern worth noting.
After studying colour vocabulary, explore Clothes and Fashion vocabulary (colours and clothing are intimately linked) and Animals (many animals are described by their distinctive colours).
Word List
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| red | the colour of blood and fire | She wore a red dress to the party. |
| blue | the colour of the sky and sea | He has bright blue eyes. |
| yellow | the colour of the sun and ripe lemons | The sunflowers turned yellow in late summer. |
| green | the colour of grass and leaves | The countryside was a deep, lush green. |
| orange | the colour between red and yellow | She painted the kitchen walls orange. |
| purple | the colour between red and blue | Purple is traditionally associated with royalty. |
| pink | a light, pale red colour | The bridesmaids wore pale pink dresses. |
| black | the darkest colour, the opposite of white | He always wears a black jacket. |
| white | the lightest colour, reflecting all light | The walls were painted a clean bright white. |
| grey | a colour between black and white | The winter sky was a heavy grey. |
| brown | a dark, warm colour like wood or soil | He has brown hair and brown eyes. |
| dark | deep in colour; closer to black | She prefers dark colours because they are easier to keep clean. |
| light | pale in colour; close to white or cream | Light blue is popular for baby rooms. |
| pale | very light, lacking strong colour | He looked pale after the shock. |
| bright | vivid and strong in colour; cheerful | The children wore bright colours for the festival. |
| shade | a particular variety or degree of a colour | I need a slightly darker shade of red for this painting. |
| navy | a very dark blue, like a dark sea | She wore a navy blue suit to the interview. |
| cream | an off-white colour, like fresh cream | The curtains were a warm cream colour. |
| beige | a pale sandy or light brownish colour | The office walls were painted beige. |
| turquoise | a greenish-blue colour, like tropical sea water | She wore turquoise earrings that matched her eyes. |
Practice with These Exercises
Flash Cards
Review colour words with spaced repetition
Match Up
Match colour words to their descriptions
Matching Pairs
Match colour name cards
Wordsearch
Find colour words hidden in the grid
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'colour' and 'color'?
'Colour' is the British English spelling; 'color' is American English. Both are correct in their respective varieties. Other British/American spelling pairs follow the same pattern: favourite/favorite, honour/honor, neighbour/neighbor. For English exams, use whichever spelling is standard in the variety you are studying. Mixing spellings in a single piece of writing is generally avoided.
How do you describe shades of colours in English?
To describe intensity: use 'dark' for deep colours (dark blue, dark green), 'light' or 'pale' for softer versions (light pink, pale yellow). To describe character: 'vivid', 'bright', 'bold' (strong, saturated colours), 'muted', 'dull', 'faded' (low-saturation colours). Specific shade names: navy (dark blue), crimson (dark red), scarlet (bright red), turquoise (blue-green), beige (pale brown-white).
Are colours adjectives or nouns in English?
Colours function as both adjectives and nouns. As adjectives, they modify nouns: 'a red car', 'blue paint'. As nouns, they name the colour itself: 'Blue is my favourite colour.' When used as adjectives before a noun, no article is needed: 'a black bag'. When referring to the colour as a noun: 'I love red.' Some colours can also be used as verbs: 'She coloured the drawing yellow.'
What colours are considered 'primary' and 'secondary' in English?
The traditional primary colours (in painting/pigment) are red, yellow, and blue. Secondary colours are made by mixing two primaries: orange (red + yellow), green (yellow + blue), and purple/violet (red + blue). In light, the primary colours are red, green, and blue (RGB). In everyday English, knowing the names of primary and secondary colours plus common shades (pink, brown, grey, black, white) covers most conversational needs.
How are colours used in English idioms?
Colour idioms are very common: 'feeling blue' (sad), 'green with envy' (jealous), 'in the red' (in debt), 'in the black' (financially profitable), 'see red' (become very angry), 'a white lie' (a harmless lie), 'a grey area' (something unclear), 'a golden opportunity' (excellent chance), 'black market' (illegal trade), 'red tape' (bureaucratic restrictions). These idioms appear frequently in IELTS Reading.
What is the difference between 'grey' and 'gray'?
'Grey' is the British English spelling; 'gray' is the American English spelling. Both are correct. 'Grey' appears in British idioms: 'grey area' (an unclear situation), 'grey matter' (brain/intelligence). As a colour, grey (or gray) describes something between black and white. Many shades of grey have names: charcoal, ash, silver, pewter, slate.
How do you say what colour your eyes, hair, and skin are in English?
Eyes: 'She has dark brown/blue/green eyes.' Hair: 'He has short black hair', 'She has long blonde hair', 'My hair is a dark shade of brown.' Skin: English uses descriptive terms rather than simple colour labels in polite conversation. For describing hair accurately in writing: brunette (dark brown hair), auburn (reddish-brown), chestnut (rich brown), platinum blonde (very light/white blonde).
How do colours relate to clothing vocabulary?
In fashion English, colours are used with clothing very frequently: 'a navy blue suit', 'charcoal grey trousers', 'an off-white blouse', 'a cobalt blue dress'. Colours modify the clothing item (adjective + noun). Shades matter in fashion more than in other contexts — 'navy' and 'royal blue' are distinct; 'cream' and 'white' are not interchangeable. See our Clothes and Fashion vocabulary page for more detail.
What is the spelling rule for colour adjectives + nouns?
When a colour adjective modifies a noun directly, no hyphen is needed: 'a red car', 'a dark green jacket'. When a compound colour modifier comes before a noun, a hyphen is sometimes used: 'a sky-blue scarf', 'a dark-brown table'. When the colour follows a verb (predicative position), no hyphen: 'The car is dark green.' These patterns are covered in B1–B2 grammar materials.
How do I quickly memorise colour vocabulary?
The most effective method for colour vocabulary is visual association. Create mental images: associate 'navy' with a dark sea at night, 'cream' with coffee with milk, 'turquoise' with a tropical ocean. Use the Matching Pairs exercise on LexFizz to reinforce the association between the word and its shade. Drawing or colouring small pictures labelled with each colour word is highly effective for visual learners.