gris
/ˈɡɾis/
The English word gray is gris in Spanish.
The word gris is used to describe the color that is a mixture of black and white. If you want to speak about different shades of gray, you can use the phrase tonalidades de grises. Other related terms include cenizo, which means ashen.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Gris plomizo may be used to describe a darker shade of gray. In Argentina, Gris marengo refers to a very dark shade of gray.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the color is grises. When using the word as an adjective, it must agree in number with the noun it modifies, changing between gris and grises.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɾis/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word gris is actually a Germanic loanword. It entered the language via Occitan from a Frankish root, rather than coming from the Latin word for gray.
- The color term can also be used figuratively to describe a person's personality. Describing someone as 'una persona gris' implies they are dull, uninspiring, or lacking character.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, describing a day as gris refers not just to the clouds but to a feeling of melancholy or sadness.
Examples in context
- El color de la pared es gris.The color of the wall is gray.
- La pintura tiene diferentes tonalidades de grises.The painting has different shades of gray.
- La funda del sofá tiene un tono grisáceo.The sofa cover has a grayish tone.
- Me gusta la camiseta plomo que llevas puesta.I like the gray shirt you're wearing.
- El cielo está muy gris hoy.The sky is very gray today.
- Me gusta tu abrigo gris.I like your gray coat.
- Tengo un coche gris.I have a gray car.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are choosing a new color for a living room wall.
- Daniel¿De qué color pintamos la pared?What color should we paint the wall?
- LucíaCreo que un tono gris sería perfecto.I think a gray tone would be perfect.
- DanielTienes razón, el gris combina con todo.You're right, gray goes with everything.
- Lucía¡Vamos a comprar la pintura entonces!Let's go buy the paint then!
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.
