roja
/ROH-hah/
red
Roja is the Spanish word for the color red, like this bright red apple.
📝 In Action
Mi bicicleta nueva es roja y negra.
A1My new bicycle is red and black.
La capa roja de Caperucita es famosa.
A2Little Red Riding Hood's red cloak is famous.
Ella tiene los ojos rojos por el cansancio.
B1She has red eyes from tiredness.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement Rule
'Roja' is the feminine form of the color. You must use 'roja' when describing feminine things (like 'casa' or 'flor'), and 'rojo' when describing masculine things (like 'coche' or 'libro').
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
In Spanish, the describing word (adjective) usually comes after the thing it describes (noun): 'falda roja' (red skirt), not 'roja falda'.
In sports, 'roja' can refer to a red card, an official signal used to dismiss a player from the game.
roja(Noun)
red card
?in sports like soccer/football
red
?referring to a socialist/communist party (often derogatory)
📝 In Action
El delantero recibió la roja por protestar al árbitro.
B2The striker received the red card for arguing with the referee.
Le sacaron la roja y su equipo se quedó con diez jugadores.
B2They gave him the red card and his team was left with ten players.
💡 Grammar Points
A Shortened Noun
When used as a noun, 'la roja' is a common shorthand for 'la tarjeta roja' (the red card). Since 'tarjeta' is feminine, we keep the feminine article 'la' and the adjective 'roja'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: roja
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'roja'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see 'rojo' and 'roja'? Which one is right?
Both are correct! They mean the same color ('red'), but they depend on the gender of the thing you are describing. If you are describing a masculine thing (like a book, 'el libro'), use 'rojo'. If you are describing a feminine thing (like a flower, 'la flor'), use 'roja'. This is called 'gender agreement'.
Does 'roja' have a plural form?
Yes, to describe more than one feminine thing, you simply add an 's' to make it 'rojas'. Example: 'Las luces son rojas' (The lights are red).