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Lesson 42 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 42 of 238

What color is it in Spanish

At Café Laurel, Justin spots a polo shirt draped over a chair. Michael helps him talk about its color and the things nearby.

You'll ask what color something is, name four common colors, and point to this one or that one.

These little lines help you identify things without knowing every object's name. Nobody's buying anything today.

By the end of this lesson

Ask what color something is, name four colors, and distinguish this one from that one.

  • ¿De qué color es?What color is it?
  • Es negroIt's black
  • Es blancoIt's white
  • Es azulIt's blue
  • Es rojoIt's red
  • EseThat one

Scene — A shirt on a chair

It's morning at Café Laurel. A blue polo shirt hangs over an empty chair beside Justin, and Michael stands nearby.

A red notebook, black cup, and white book are on the table. Brown Yako occupies two chairs, leaving no room for the shirt.

Justin sits beside an unoccupied chair draped with a blue polo shirt, Michael stands nearby, and brown Yako takes up two other chairs beside a table holding three colored objects.

Learn — Colors and pointing

There are seven lines. Tap ▶ for each one, then say it out loud.

For the last two, point at something nearby or farther away.

  1. Justin points to the blue polo shirt on the unoccupied chair and looks questioningly at Michael.

    ¿De qué color es?

    What color is it?

    When to use it: Ask about the color of something you're looking at.

  2. Michael indicates the black cup as he explains its color.

    Es negro

    It's black

    When to use it: Say this when the thing you're describing is black.

    Use this exact line for a masculine item.

  3. Michael holds up the white book and explains its color.

    Es blanco

    It's white

    When to use it: Say this when the thing you're describing is white.

    Use this exact line for a masculine item.

  4. Michael points to the blue polo shirt while Justin listens beside its unoccupied chair.

    Es azul

    It's blue

    When to use it: Say this when the thing you're describing is blue.

    Say it: Azul sounds like ah-SOOL; the z sounds like s in Mexico.

  5. Michael presents the red notebook and explains its color.

    Es rojo

    It's red

    When to use it: Say this when the thing you're describing is red.

    Use this exact line for a masculine item.

    Say it: The j in rojo sounds like a strong English h.

  6. Justin points toward the blue polo shirt across a small gap to indicate that one while Michael follows his gesture.

    Ese

    That one

    When to use it: Point out a masculine item farther from you, often near the other person.

Story — This one or that one?

Watch Justin point before asking about the shirt's color. Then he and Michael name the colors around the table.

Follow the highlighted lines, and use Show English if you need help.

  1. Justin gestures toward the chairs, and Michael tries to see which object caught his eye.
  2. Michael¿Cuál?Which one?
  3. Justin points at the polo shirt beside him.
  4. JustinEste.This one.
  5. Justin¿De qué color es?What color is it?
  6. MichaelEs azul.It's blue.
  7. They take turns naming colors: Justin points at the notebook.
  8. JustinEs rojo.It's red.
  9. Michael points at the cup.
  10. MichaelEs negro.It's black.
  11. Justin looks toward the white book beside Michael.
  12. JustinEs blanco.It's white.
  13. Michael¿Cuál?Which one?
  14. Justin points across the table at the book; Yako helpfully lifts his hoof out of the way.
  15. JustinEse.That one.
  16. JustinGracias.Thank you.

Practice — Pick the color

Try ten exercises with colors, pointing, and two familiar lines. Listen carefully before choosing.

Keep trying or use the skip button; each explanation helps you check.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Es negroDrop the English here
    Es blancoDrop the English here
    Es rojoDrop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    The polo shirt is right beside you. Point it out by saying “This one.”

  4. Fill the gap

    What color is it?

    ¿De qué ____ es?

  5. What does it mean?

    ¿Cuál?

  6. What do you say?

    The book is across the table beside Michael, away from you. Point and say “That one.”

  7. True or false?

    This line says something is white.

  8. What does it mean?

    Gracias

  9. What do you say?

    Michael asks about the book's color. Its cover is white.

  10. Build the line

    It's red

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — Point and answer

You play Justin, and Michael speaks first. Point and answer as the objects change.

Tap the microphone to speak, or ▶ for the model. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Michael¿Cuál?Which one?
  2. Justin (you)Point at the polo shirt beside you and say “This one.”

    ¿Este?

    This one?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
¿De qué color es?What color is it?
Es negroIt's black
Es blancoIt's white
Es azulIt's blue
Es rojoIt's red
EseThat one
Next: lesson 43How much is it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these colors handy with Yak Cards, and practice pointing as you say each line.

Find something blue nearby, then something red farther away. Name the colors and point to each one.

Open Yak Cards