blanca
/BLAHN-kah/
white
Depicting the primary meaning of 'blanca' as the color white.
📝 In Action
Mi camisa favorita es blanca.
A1My favorite shirt is white.
Después del susto, su cara se puso completamente blanca.
A2After the shock, her face turned completely pale.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'blanca' describes feminine things (like 'casa' or 'mesa'), it must end in '-a'. If the thing were masculine (like 'coche'), you would use 'blanco'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Feminine Form
Mistake: "La pared es blanco."
Correction: La pared es blanca. ('Pared' is a feminine word, so the color must match.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Positioning
Like most colors, 'blanca' usually goes after the person or thing it describes: 'una casa blanca' (a white house).
Illustrating the concept of being pure or untainted.
📝 In Action
Ella siempre ha tenido una reputación blanca e intachable.
B1She has always had a pure and impeccable reputation.
Mantuvo la fe blanca a pesar de todas las dificultades.
C1She kept the faith pure despite all the difficulties.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
Think of this meaning as 'morally white'—it’s often used when talking about honesty, history, or character.
Representing the musical term 'blanca', which means half note.
📝 In Action
El compás de cuatro por cuatro permite cuatro negras o dos blancas.
B2Four-four time allows for four quarter notes or two half notes.
💡 Grammar Points
Musical Notes
The name of this musical note comes from its appearance: an uncolored, or 'white,' note head. Other notes are named similarly (e.g., 'negra' for quarter note).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: blanca
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'blanca' to describe a feminine thing?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'blanca' mean both 'white' and 'pale'?
'Blanca' refers to the total absence of color, but when describing a person's skin, it implies a lack of color or blood due to sickness, fear, or shock, which we translate as 'pale'.