couleur bleue
The English phrase "color blue" is translated into French as couleur bleue.
The phrase refers to the specific color that resembles a clear sky or a deep ocean. In French, when you use colors as adjectives, they usually follow the noun they describe.
Which one should you use?
While couleur bleue is a phrase meaning "blue color", the single noun le bleu is often used to refer to the color itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
Colors in French agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. The adjective bleue must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, such as the feminine noun couleur. When using the color as an adjective to describe a masculine noun, the e is dropped from the end of the feminine form bleue, resulting in bleu. The masculine plural form is bleus and the feminine plural form is bleues.
Did you know?
- In French grammar, if you specify a shade, such as bleu marine or bleu ciel, the adjective stops agreeing in gender and number with the noun.
- In French, the phrase le bleu can also refer to a bruise on the skin, rather than just a shade of the color.
- While an English speaker might call a beginner 'green', a French person might call them un bleu, using the color blue to denote lack of experience.
Examples in context
- J'aime la couleur bleue.I like the color blue.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for the couleur bleue.Tatoeba #1120610 by Sibelius, translation #1032101 by CK
- La mer est bleueThe sea is blue
- Nous avons peint les murs en bleu cielWe painted the walls in sky blue
- Son costume est bleu foncéHis suit is dark blue
- Son sac à dos est d'un bleu électrique éclatantHis backpack is a bright electric blue
- J'aime porter des pantalons bleu marineI like to wear navy blue trousers
- un stylo bleuA blue pen
- une fleur bleueA blue flower
- Un grand ciel bleuA big blue sky
- Cette robe a une couleur bleue magnifique.This dress has a beautiful blue color.
- Je cherche une couleur bleue pour le mur.I am looking for a blue color for the wall.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are shopping for home decor.
- ManonEst-ce que tu préfères cette couleur bleue ?Do you prefer this blue color?
- LucasOui, elle est très jolie.Yes, it is very pretty.
- ManonLucas, regarde ce vase bleu.Lucas, look at this blue vase.
- LucasIl irait bien avec la couleur bleue du salon.It would go well with the blue color of the living room.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
