gris
/ˈɡɾis/
The Spanish word for grey is gris.
gris is used to describe the color that is a mix of black and white. You can use it to describe objects like Una blusa gris (A grey blouse).
Which one should you use?
To specify the shade, you can use gris oscuro for dark grey or gris claro for light grey.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term gris marengo is commonly used to refer to the color dark grey.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word gris is invariable in gender, so it is used for both masculine and feminine nouns. The plural form is grises. For example, Unos pantalones grises means Some grey pants.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɾis/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word gris is actually a loanword from the Frankish language via Occitan, meaning it has Germanic roots rather than Latin ones.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if someone describes a person as having a gris or 'grey' personality, they are not talking about their clothes, but suggesting the person is dull, boring, or lacks character.
- While English speakers use 'grey' to describe aging hair, Spanish often uses the term canas to refer to the individual white or grey hairs themselves.
Examples in context
- ¿Es ese gato gris?Is that cat grey?This sentence is useful for asking about the color of a cat using gris.Tatoeba #7958413 by pchamorro, translation #5272667 by kemushi69
- Tenía el pelo gris.He had grey hair.This sentence is useful for describing hair color using gris.Tatoeba #482552 by hayastan, translation #482379 by adjusting
- La lámpara es gris.The lamp is grey.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a lamp using gris.Tatoeba #1355605 by marcelostockle, translation #819040 by sundown
- El traje es de color grisThe suit is grey
- Sus ojos son de color plomoHis/her eyes are grey
- El cielo se ve grisáceo hoyThe sky looks somewhat grey today
- El traje es de color gris marengoThe suit is dark grey
- Es un tono gris similar al de las nubesIt's a shade of grey similar to that of the clouds
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are looking at paint samples for a room.
- JavierMe gusta este color gris.I like this grey color.
- MaríaEs demasiado oscuro para mí.It is too dark for me.
- JavierMira este otro tono gris.Look at this other grey tone.
- MaríaEse es perfecto, Javier.That one is perfect, Javier.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gris, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
