Inklingo

How to Say "light purple" in Spanish

English → Spanish

lila

/LEE-lah//ˈlila/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'lila' as a general adjective to describe anything that is light purple in color.
A solid, smooth wash of light purple color filling the frame.

Examples

Mi hermana tiene una falda lila muy bonita.

My sister has a very pretty lilac skirt.

Pintamos las paredes del cuarto de color lila.

We painted the bedroom walls lilac.

El cielo se puso lila durante el atardecer.

The sky turned lilac during the sunset.

One Form for All

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'lila' ends in 'a' whether you are describing a masculine or feminine thing. For example: 'el libro lila' and 'la mesa lila'.

Making it Plural

Because 'lila' is also a noun (the flower), some people don't change it for plurals (las camisas lila). However, adding an 's' (las camisas lilas) is also very common and perfectly correct.

Avoid 'Lilo'

Mistake: “Un coche lilo.”

Correction: Un coche lila. Even though 'coche' is masculine, the color word 'lila' never changes to 'lilo'.

orquídea

nounA2general
Use 'orquídea' when referring to a specific, often delicate, shade of light purple, named after the flower.

Examples

Mi tía me regaló una orquídea muy bonita por mi cumpleaños.

My aunt gave me a very beautiful orchid for my birthday.

General vs. Specific Shade

Learners often confuse 'lila' and 'orquídea' by assuming they are interchangeable. Remember that 'lila' is a broad color term, while 'orquídea' refers to a very specific hue, much like naming a color 'rose' instead of just 'pink'.

Related Translations

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