sombras de gris
/sombɾas de ɡɾis/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shades of gray" is translated into Spanish as sombras de gris.
The phrase refers to different tones or variations of the color gray. While sombras de gris is a literal translation, the term tonalidades de gris is often more precise when you are referring to color variations in an artistic or technical context.
What does it mean word for word?
The word for gray in Spanish is gris.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in Latin America, the term gris plomo is used to describe a shade of gray that is similar to the color of lead.
How do you pronounce it?
/sombɾas de ɡɾis/
When do people say it?
When describing objects, you can use gris plateado to imply that the gray is a metallic, shiny silver color.
Did you know?
- The word gris was not inherited from Latin but was borrowed into Spanish from the Frankish word *gris.
- In Spanish, the word gris can be used as a noun to describe a person who is boring or lacks personality, calling them un gris.
- While English speakers use 'shades' to mean color variations, the Spanish sombras in this phrase literally means 'shadows'.
Examples in context
- El coche tiene un color gris oscuroThe car has a dark gray color.
- La pared está pintada de un color gris claroThe wall is painted in a light gray color.
- Prefiero un tono de gris medio para el sofáI prefer a medium shade of gray for the sofa.
- Me gustaría pintar mi habitación de un color gris plomoI would like to paint my room in a lead gray color.
- El nuevo vestido que compré es de un color gris cenizaThe new dress I bought is an ash gray color.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are picking paint for a room.
- Alejandro¿Qué color prefieres para el cuarto?What color do you prefer for the room?
- LucíaPrefiero usar algunas sombras de gris.I prefer to use some shades of gray.
- AlejandroMe parece una buena idea, Lucía.I think that is a good idea, Lucía.
- LucíaBusquemos el catálogo de sombras de gris.Let's look for the catalog of shades of gray.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, gris, CC BY-SA 4.0.
