In this article, we will learn three Spanish idioms with colors. As you know, Spanish is spoken in many countries and some idioms used in Spain may be different to those used in Mexico, Colombia and Peru, among other countries. We will focus on the ones used in Spain and you will find information about their equivalent in Mexico.

Colors in Spanish

Let’s start reviewing the name of colors.

  • blanco (white)
  • negro (black)
  • gris (gray)
  • azul (blue)
  • verde (green)
  • rojo (red)
  • naranja (orange)
  • amarillo (yellow)
  • marrón (brown)
    • In México, café is used instead.
  • rosa (pink)
  • morado (purple)

Colors are used to describe nouns. Remember that when they are used as adjectives, they should agree with the noun they describe.

La camisa roja me parece más elegante que la camisa verde.

The red shirt seems more elegant than the green shirt.

Necesitamos hojas blancas y azules para la impresora.

We need some white and blue sheets for the printer.

Spanish Idioms with Colors

Now that we have reviewed the name of colors, let’s learn some Spanish idioms with colors.

De color de rosa (a bed of roses)

One of the most popular Spanish idioms with colors is de color de rosa, whose equivalents in English are a bed of roses or all peaches and cream. It is used to describe a situation in which everything is pleasant and easy.

Las personas optimistas ven la vida de color de rosa. Yo pienso también en los problemas.

Optimistic people think life is a bed of roses. I think about problems, too.

He tenido momentos buenos y malos. Todo no ha sido de color de rosa.

I’ve had good moments and bad ones, it wasn’t all peaches and cream.

Ponerse rojo como un tomate (to turn red as a beet)

Ponerse rojo como un tomate means to go or to turn red as a beet. It is used when you are blushing or when you are becoming very red in the face because you are embarrassed. In Mexico, they would say ponerse colorado.

Cuando ve al chico que le gusta, se pone roja como un tomate. (ES)

Cuando ve al chico que le gusta, se pone colorada. (MX)

When she sees the boy she likes, she turns red as a beet.

Siempre me pongo rojo como un tomate cuando hablo en público. (ES)

Siempre me pongo colorado cuando hablo en público. (MX)

I go red as a beet whenever I speak in public.

Poner negro (to irritate)

Let’s finish today’s idioms with poner negro. It means to irritate someone or to make someone angry. In Mexico, they would say sacar canas verdes.

¡Me pones negro! ¿Has olvidado los champiñones? ¡Son indispensables para el guiso! (ES)

¡Me sacas canas verdes! ¿Has olvidado los champiñones? ¡Son indispensables para el guiso! (MX)

You’re so irritating! You forgot the mushrooms? They’re essential for the stew!

No es la persona más paciente del mundo. Es muy exigente y un error pequeño le pone negro. (ES)

No es la persona más paciente del mundo. Es muy exigente y un error pequeño le saca canas verdes. (MX)

He is not the most patient person in the world. He’s very picky and just a tiny mistake makes him angry.

Exercises

Here are some exercises to practice the Spanish idioms with colors we have reviewed in this article.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Categorized in:

Idioms and Phrases