blanco
/BLAHN-ko/
white
As an adjective, blanco means white, like the wool of this sheep.
blanco(Adjective)
white
?Describing the color of something
pale
?Describing a person's complexion due to fear or illness
,blank
?Describing a page or screen with nothing on it
📝 In Action
Mi camisa favorita es blanca.
A1My favorite shirt is white.
Las nubes son blancas y esponjosas.
A1The clouds are white and fluffy.
Se puso blanco del susto.
B1He turned pale with fright.
💡 Grammar Points
Making Adjectives Agree
'Blanco' is a describing word, so it changes to match the thing it describes. If the thing is feminine, use 'blanca'. If it's plural, add an 's': 'blancos' or 'blancas'. For example: el coche blanco (the white car), la casa blanca (the white house), los coches blancos (the white cars).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Match
Mistake: "La pared es blanco."
Correction: Say 'La pared es blanca.' because 'pared' (wall) is a feminine word, so the describing word needs to match it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing People
When you say a person is 'blanco' or 'blanca', it can mean they are Caucasian, or it can mean they look pale because they are sick or scared. The situation will tell you which meaning is intended.
As a noun, el blanco refers to the color white itself.
📝 In Action
El blanco es un color que simboliza la paz.
A2White is a color that symbolizes peace.
Para la pared, prefiero el blanco al gris.
A2For the wall, I prefer white over gray.
💡 Grammar Points
Colors as Nouns
When you talk about a color as a 'thing' or concept, you almost always use the masculine form. That's why we say 'el blanco' (the color white), even if you're planning to paint a feminine noun like 'la casa'.
Blanco can also mean a target or objective, as when an archer hits the bullseye.
blanco(Noun)
target
?Something to aim at, literally or figuratively
bullseye
?The center of a target
,objective
?A goal to be achieved
📝 In Action
El arquero le dio al blanco.
B1The archer hit the target.
Los turistas son un blanco fácil para los estafadores.
B2Tourists are an easy target for scammers.
Nuestro blanco principal es aumentar las ventas.
B2Our main objective is to increase sales.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal vs. Figurative
You can use 'blanco' for a physical target in archery or shooting, but it's also very common to use it for a non-physical goal, like a sales target or the target of a joke.
When used as a noun, blanco can refer to a blank space or empty area that needs input.
📝 In Action
Por favor, escribe tu nombre en el blanco.
B1Please, write your name in the blank.
Me quedé en blanco durante el examen.
B1My mind went blank during the exam.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: blanco
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'Durante el discurso, el político se quedó en blanco', what does 'blanco' refer to?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'blanco' change to 'blanca', 'blancos', or 'blancas'?
In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) have to 'agree' or 'match' the thing they are describing in two ways: gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). 'Blanco' is the basic form used for singular, masculine things. You change it to 'blanca' for feminine things, and add an 's' for plural things.
What's the difference between 'ser blanco' and 'estar blanco'?
Great question! 'Ser blanco' usually describes a permanent or characteristic quality, like 'La nieve es blanca' (Snow is white). 'Estar blanco' describes a temporary state, often for a person's complexion. If someone looks sick or scared, you'd say 'Estás muy blanco' (You look very pale).