rosa
/ROH-sah/
rose
As a noun, 'rosa' means 'rose', referring to the flower.
📝 In Action
Me regaló una rosa roja por mi cumpleaños.
A1He gave me a red rose for my birthday.
Las rosas en el jardín huelen muy bien.
A2The roses in the garden smell very good.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Even though it ends in '-a,' the word 'rosa' is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Poetic Usage
In literature or poetry, 'rosa' is often a symbol of beauty, love, or the fleeting nature of youth.
As an adjective, 'rosa' means 'pink', the color.
📝 In Action
Ella compró una camisa rosa.
A1She bought a pink shirt.
Los globos son de color rosa brillante.
A2The balloons are bright pink.
Pintaron las paredes de rosa.
A2They painted the walls pink.
💡 Grammar Points
Color Adjective Rule (Invariable)
When 'rosa' is used to describe a color, it usually stays the same (invariable), meaning it does not change to match the gender or number of the thing it describes. You say 'camisa rosa' (singular, feminine) and 'libros rosa' (plural, masculine).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Making it Plural
Mistake: "Compraron unas flores rosas."
Correction: Compraron unas flores rosa. (The color 'rosa' often acts like a noun describing a color, so it doesn't usually take an 's'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Rosado'
If you find the invariable rule confusing, you can often use the adjective 'rosado' instead, which always changes to match the noun (rosada, rosados, rosadas). Example: 'camisas rosadas'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rosa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'rosa' as the color adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'rosa' always used for the color pink, or is 'rosado' better?
'Rosa' is perfectly common and correct for pink. The main difference is that 'rosa' usually stays the same (invariable) regardless of the noun's gender or number, while 'rosado' changes its ending (rosada, rosados, rosadas) to match the noun.
How do I say 'light pink' or 'dark pink'?
You can combine 'rosa' with other adjectives: 'rosa claro' (light pink) or 'rosa oscuro' (dark pink). Remember, 'claro' and 'oscuro' usually stay masculine and singular in this context, as they are describing the color itself.