couleur jaune
The English phrase "yellow colour" is couleur jaune in French.
couleur jaune is used to describe the color that resembles the appearance of a lemon or the sun. When you want to refer to the color itself as a concept or a noun rather than a descriptor, you use the form le jaune.
Which one should you use?
If you are using the color as a noun (the color yellow), use le jaune.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective jaune is invariable in gender, so it remains the same whether the noun it modifies is masculine or feminine. However, jaune must agree in number with the noun. You add an s to form jaunes if the noun it modifies is plural.
Did you know?
- In French history, the color jaune was once associated with betrayal and used to mark the clothing of those deemed traitors or outcasts.
- The word jaune actually traces its roots back to the Latin word galbinus, which originally referred to a yellowish-red shade or a specific type of bark.
- In the Tour de France, the leader of the general classification wears a yellow jersey known as le maillot jaune.
Examples in context
- La robe est d'un jaune éclatant.The dress is a brilliant yellow.
- Le soleil illumine la pièce d'une lumière jaune douce.The sun brightens the room with a soft yellow light.
- La chemise est d'un jaune pâle.The shirt is a pale yellow.
- Ce mur est d'une couleur jaunâtre.This wall has a yellowish color.
- Le papier a jauni et est maintenant jaunâtre.The paper has yellowed and is now yellowish.
- J'aime beaucoup cette couleur jaune.I really like this yellow colour.
- Le mur est d'une belle couleur jaune.The wall is a beautiful yellow colour.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are looking at paint samples for a room.
- LéaTu préfères quelle couleur jaune ?Which yellow colour do you prefer?
- NathanCelle-ci est une très jolie couleur jaune.This one is a very pretty yellow colour.
- LéaJe trouve qu'elle est un peu trop vive.I think it is a bit too bright.
- NathanAlors, essayons un ton plus pâle.Then, let's try a paler tone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couleur, jaune, CC BY-SA 4.0.
