Expressions with colours in Spanish are a good example of how varied our language is. There is a popular Spanish saying: ‘para gustos, los colores’; ‘everyone to his own taste’ can be a good translation.

Gay Pride 2020 is here. Next Sunday, the 28th, LGBTQ collectives will try to reclaim their rights, in spite of the limitations because of COVID19. This year there will not be a parade in the streets, but some events will take place, online mainly.

We said before para gustos los colores, but also the sexual orientations and gender identities. Today, we’ll learn some expressions with colours in Spanish. Which colours? The ones in the LGTBTQ’S flag, of course.

Expressions with colours in Spanish: Red

The colour red is a symbol in Spain. It denotes passion and it’s the predominant colour of our national flag. However, it can sometimes have negative meanings:

  • Ponerse rojo como un tomate: to feel embarrassed.
  • Estar en números rojos: to be in the red or in debt.
  • Estar al rojo vivo: to be very hot or exciting.

Mi padre fue al banco y le dijeron que estaba en números rojos. Claro, se puso rojo como un tomate y ahora la situación en casa está al rojo vivo.

 

Orange is not the new black

Orange is not very used in expressions with colours in Spanish. However, we’re going to cheat a little and we’ll see some expressions with the word naranja but, actually, referring to the fruit.

  • Ser la media naranja: to be your soul mate.
  • ¡Naranjas de la China!: no way!
  • Tener piel de naranja: to have dimply skin.

– Yo creo que Antonio puede ser tu media naranja.

– ¿Antonio? ¡Naranjas de la China! ¡Si incluso tiene piel de naranja!

We don’t live in a yellow submarine, and you?

Maybe Molière and many actors and actresses hate the colour amarillo, but it’s in the Pride’s flag and here you are:

  • La prensa amarilla: the tabloid press.
  • Más vale ponerse una vez colorado que ciento amarillo: It’s better to be embarrased once, than regret a hundred times.

El presidente ha dado una rueda de prensa para reconocer que mintió. Más vale ponerse una vez colorado que ciento amarillo. De todas formas, la prensa amarilla habría descubierto su secreto.

Expressions with colours in Spanish: Green

Verde que te quiero verde… that is the beginning of, perhaps, the most famous Federico García Lorca’s poem. Here you have expressions with colours in Spanish in green:

  • Contar un chiste verde: to tell a dirty joke.
  • Poner verde a alguien: to criticize someone.
  • Estar verde alguien: to have no experience.

Toda la oficina está poniendo verde al nuevo. El caso es que en la fiesta de fin de año, le contó un chiste verde a la jefa y a esta no le gustó. Es que este chico está muy verde.

Blue as the Spanish sky

Blue is the colour of the sea and the colour of the sky, so who can say it’s an ugly colour? These are some expressions with the colour azul.

  • Ser el príncipe azul: to be the prince charming.
  • Ser de sangre azul: to be from a noble family.
  • Como el cielo es azul: to be absolutely sure.

¿Crees que ese chico es tu príncipe azul? Ni que fuera de sangre azul. No te conviene, estoy segura como el cielo es azul.

Violet, pink… aren’t they the same?

Obviously, they are not the same colour. However, we’ve not found any expression with the last colour of the Pride’s flag: violeta. Nevertheless, we’ll bring you here another colour: rosa. This colour was part of the very first flag in 1978.

  • Ver la vida de color de rosa: with rose-colored glasses.
  • Prensa rosa: gossip magazines.

Yo sé que tú ves la vida de color de rosa pero leyendo la prensa rosa todo el día no vas a aprobar el examen DELE.

Many colours, many options and many expressions with colours in Spanish. However, we are sure that the best one to learn Spanish is at home. On Spanishviaskype.com we give you the chance to try a trial lesson here. You will not regret.