azul
“azul” means “blue” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
blue
Also: navy
📝 In Action
El mar Caribe es de un color azul turquesa impresionante.
A2The Caribbean Sea is an impressive turquoise blue color.
Necesito comprar una camisa azul para la fiesta de mañana.
A1I need to buy a blue shirt for tomorrow's party.
Las flores azules de mi jardín son las favoritas de mi madre.
A1The blue flowers in my garden are my mother's favorite.
blue
Also: blue pigment
📝 In Action
Mi color favorito es el azul, específicamente el azul marino.
A2My favorite color is blue, specifically navy blue.
Ella pintó las paredes de un azul muy brillante.
B1She painted the walls a very bright blue.
Vocabulary Collections
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: azul
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'azul' to describe the item?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Arabic word 'lāzaward,' which originally referred to the precious stone lapis lazuli (a deep blue stone). Spanish borrowed the root, dropping the initial 'l' over time.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'azul' ever change its ending to -a or -o?
No. 'Azul' is one of the adjectives that is 'invariable' for gender, meaning it always keeps the -ul ending whether the word it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el libro azul', 'la pluma azul').
Why do Spanish speakers use 'el azul' when talking about the color?
When we talk about colors in general (like saying 'Blue is a cool color'), we treat the color as a masculine object or concept. This means it always needs the masculine article 'el' in front of it.