color gris
/koloɾ ɡɾis/from spelling rules
The English phrase "gray color" is translated into Spanish as color gris.
color gris refers to the color that is a mix of black and white. In most contexts, Spanish speakers omit the word color and simply use the adjective gris to refer to the color.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective gris remains the same in both masculine and feminine forms. To express the plural, the adjective becomes grises. When describing multiple items, both the noun and the adjective must be plural, such as in colores grises.
How do you pronounce it?
/koloɾ ɡɾis/
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you want to describe a color that is grayish with a bluish or leaden hue, avoid using the informal term plomizo in formal settings.
Did you know?
- The word gris is actually of Germanic origin rather than Latin, having entered the Spanish language via the Occitan language.
- While color gris is the literal translation, calling someone gris in Spanish can be a metaphor for describing a person who is boring or lacks personality.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase gris ceniza is used specifically to describe 'ash gray', a shade associated with mourning or old age.
Examples in context
- El cielo está gris hoy.The sky is gray today.
- La pintura de la pared es plomiza.The wall paint is grayish.
- Mis abuelos tienen el pelo cenizo.My grandparents have gray hair.
- Me encanta tu camiseta azulina.I love your light grayish-blue shirt.
- Ese coche es de color gris.That car is gray.
- Prefiero el color gris para la sala.I prefer the color gray for the living room.
- El cielo tiene un color gris muy oscuro.The sky has a very dark gray color.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are choosing paint for a room.
- SofíaMateo, ¿qué color quieres para la pared?Mateo, what color do you want for the wall?
- MateoCreo que el color gris queda bien.I think the gray color looks good.
- SofíaTienes razón, es un color elegante.You are right, it is an elegant color.
- MateoEntonces, compremos el color gris.Then, let's buy the gray color.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries color, gris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
