Basic colours
| Colour | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| red | The traffic light is red. |
| blue | The sky is blue. |
| green | The grass is green. |
| yellow | Bananas are yellow. |
| orange | An orange is orange. |
| purple / violet | The grapes are purple. |
| pink | She wore a pink dress. |
| white | Snow is white. |
| black | His jacket is black. |
| grey (UK) / gray (US) | The sky looks grey today. |
| brown | Chocolate is brown. |
| beige | The walls are painted beige. |
Shades and variations
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| light blue | pale, not bright |
| dark green | deep, not pale |
| bright red | vivid, intense |
| pale yellow | very light yellow |
| sky blue | the colour of a clear sky |
| navy (blue) | very dark blue |
| cream | off-white, like cream |
| golden | gold-coloured |
| silver | silver-coloured |
Using colours as adjectives
Colours come before the noun in English:
- a red car — never a car red
- blue eyes
- a dark green jumper
Colours also follow the verb to be:
- The door is white.
- Her eyes are blue.
Useful questions and answers
| Question | Possible answer |
|---|---|
| What colour is it? | It's red. / It's a pale blue. |
| What is your favourite colour? | My favourite colour is green. |
| What colour are your eyes? | They're brown / blue / green / grey. |
Real world: describing clothes
When shopping or describing what someone is wearing, colours are essential: "I'm looking for a navy blue jumper." "She's wearing a bright red coat." "Do you have this in black?" — colour is one of the first things people mention when describing clothing or objects.
Real world: traffic lights and signs
Colour-coded systems are everywhere: a red light means stop, amber/orange means get ready, green means go. Warning signs are often yellow, information signs are blue. Knowing colour words helps you understand instructions and stay safe.
Practice Problems
What colour is the sky on a clear day?
Show answer
Write a sentence describing a red apple.
Show answer
What is the difference between 'light blue' and 'navy'?
Show answer
What is the American English spelling of 'colour'?