Inklingo
← Dictionary

gris

grees/ɡɾis/

gray, grey

A smooth, round gray pebble resting on a minimal white surface, illustrating the color gray.

📝 In Action

Mi coche nuevo es de color gris oscuro.

A1

My new car is dark gray.

En un día nublado, el cielo se ve gris.

A1

On a cloudy day, the sky looks gray.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ceniciento (ash-colored)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • gris claro – light gray
  • gris marengo – charcoal gray

gloomy, dull

Also: sad, colorless
Adjectivem/fB2neutral/literary
A desolate scene showing a small, lonely house silhouette under a dark, rainy, gray, overcast sky, conveying gloominess.

📝 In Action

Últimamente, su vida se ha vuelto muy gris.

B2

Lately, his life has become very dull/monotonous.

Tras la derrota, el ambiente en el vestuario era gris.

C1

After the defeat, the atmosphere in the locker room was gloomy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • alegre (cheerful)
  • vibrante (vibrant)

gray

NounmA1
A solid square block of medium gray color floating slightly above a white background, representing the color itself.

📝 In Action

El gris combina muy bien con el azul.

A1

Gray combines very well with blue.

Pintaron la sala en un gris muy elegante.

A2

They painted the living room in a very elegant gray.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • una escala de grises – a scale of grays (grayscale)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "gris" in Spanish:

colorless→dull→gloomy→gray→grey→sad→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: gris

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'gris' to describe more than one feminine noun?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
grisáceo(grayish) — Adjective
grisura(grayness; dullness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
paísfeliz
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old French word *gris*, which itself originated from Germanic languages (like Old High German *grīs*), meaning 'gray' or 'old'.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish period (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

French: grisItalian: grigio

💡 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

How do I say 'light gray' or 'dark gray'?

You simply add 'claro' (light) or 'oscuro' (dark) after the word: 'gris claro' or 'gris oscuro'. Remember that 'claro' and 'oscuro' must agree in number with the noun they describe, but 'gris' stays 'gris'!

Can 'gris' describe a person?

Yes, but usually in a figurative sense (Definition 2). Saying someone is 'gris' means they are dull, boring, or lacking personality, not usually referring to their literal skin or hair color.