Inklingo
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colores

/koh-LOH-rehs/

colors

A vibrant array of primary and secondary colors displayed as simple painted swatches.

The literal meaning of colores is 'colors' or 'hues'.

colores(Noun)

mA1

colors

?

hues or visual pigments

Also:

shades

?

variety of hues

,

paints

?

materials used for painting

📝 In Action

Mi hija está aprendiendo los nombres de los colores primarios.

A1

My daughter is learning the names of the primary colors.

Necesito comprar más colores para mi paleta de acuarelas.

A2

I need to buy more paints (colors) for my watercolor palette.

Los colores de este paisaje son increíbles al atardecer.

B1

The colors of this landscape are incredible at sunset.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tonos (shades/tones)
  • matices (nuances)

Common Collocations

  • colores vivos – bright colors
  • colores pastel – pastel colors
  • caja de colores – box of crayons/pencils

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Remember that 'color' is a masculine word, so its plural form 'colores' always uses masculine articles and adjectives: 'los colores', 'muchos colores'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La colores son bonitas."

Correction: Los colores son bonitos. (The colors are pretty.) The masculine noun requires masculine adjective endings.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Variety

To say something has 'many colors,' use 'de muchos colores' or 'de todo color' (less common), not just 'muchos colores'.

A close-up illustration of a person's face showing strong red blush covering their cheeks and nose, indicating embarrassment.

Colores can also refer to 'blush' or the redness that appears on someone's face when they are embarrassed.

colores(Noun)

mB2

blush

?

in the phrase 'sacar los colores'

Also:

shame

?

embarrassment

,

variety

?

in the phrase 'de todos colores'

📝 In Action

Cuando le preguntaron por su secreto, se le subieron los colores a la cara.

B2

When they asked him about his secret, he blushed/felt embarrassed.

Esa revista tiene artículos de todos colores: política, chismes, ciencia...

C1

That magazine has articles of all kinds (of every color): politics, gossip, science...

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vergüenza (shame/embarrassment)
  • clases (kinds/sorts)

Idioms & Expressions

  • Sacarle los colores (a alguien) – To make someone blush or feel embarrassed by pointing out a fault or truth.
  • De todos colores – Of all kinds, of all sorts, of great variety.

💡 Grammar Points

Subir los colores

When someone blushes, Spanish often uses the verb 'subir' (to go up) or 'salir' (to come out) with 'los colores' as the subject: 'Se me subieron los colores' (The colors rose in me).

⭐ Usage Tips

Emotional Context

If you hear 'colores' used in a context about someone's face or emotions, it almost always refers to blushing or embarrassment, not literal paint.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: colores

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'colores' in its idiomatic meaning (embarrassment)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

color(color (singular)) - noun
colorido(colorful) - adjective
colorear(to color/to paint) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'colores' masculine or feminine?

'Colores' is the plural form of the noun 'color,' which is masculine. Therefore, 'colores' is always treated as masculine, requiring 'los' and masculine adjectives.

How do I say 'bright colors' in Spanish?

You would typically say 'colores vivos' or 'colores brillantes'. The word 'vivos' (lively/vibrant) is very common in this context.