90 marvelous shades of color in English from mint green to mango

Colors are one of the first and most enjoyable things we ever learn to say in a foreign language. And learning colors in English will help you get your message across more easily.

Once you learn the basic colors, you’ll be able to tell someone that you like their yellow t-shirt, indicate to your date that you want red roses, or tell the lady at the shoe store that you’d prefer this pair of shoes in black. Although you don’t need to know all the different colors and shades, the more you know, the more specific you can get when describing things.

In this guide, we will walk you through all colors of the rainbow and their range of shades. We will also share tips and fun games to learn colors faster. Ready? Let’s learn some colors!

Why learn the colors in English?

Describe things efficiently

One of the main reasons why you should learn different shades of color in English is to be able to describe things. Whether while shopping for new clothes at a clothing store or describing the girl or guy we like to our best friend, we need colors to paint a vivid picture of whatever we’re describing.

Can you imagine not being able to describe what you see or the thing you want just because you don’t know how to name its color? It would be very uncomfortable! And it would make communicating much more difficult. Learning colors in English and their different shades will help you be more specific when describing things and communicate your message more efficiently.

Use fun idiomatic expressions

English uses a lot of fun idiomatic expressions with colors. Someone can be green with envy, see red, or be tickled pink. Do you know what these mean? If you know the colors, you might be able to figure it out!

This is because colors are closely tied to our emotions (there’s even such as thing as color psychology).

Colors in English

In English, there are a few words that describe the color of something. Of course, the most basic one is the word “color.”

• In American English, it’s spelled “color” and pronounced <kuh-lr>.
• In British English, it’s spelled “colour” and pronounced <kuh-luh>.

Apart from the word “color,” there’s also “hue” and “shade.” The hue can be described as an indication of the color. For example, you can have blue ocean water with a green hue. On the other hand, a shade is the tone of the color. For example, a blue ocean can have turquoise or aquamarine shade.

Let’s take a look at the main colors and their shades.

Shades of purple

Purple is one of the most important colors in English. If you want to describe the shade of beautiful flowers that bloom in spring or the color of some fruits, such as grapes or plum, you’ll need to learn the various shades of purple.

Purple is also a popular nail and hair color, so if you’re currently considering going purple, you can take inspiration from the below purple palette.

Shades of orange

Orange is a vivid and bright color that brings joy to anyone’s life! If you want to describe the Caribbean sunset or the colors of various tropical fruits, such as mangos or papayas, you’ll need to know these shades of orange.

Shades of blue

Blue is one of those colors that we use on a daily basis. The shades of blue vary a lot. There are light blues such as sky blue, blues with a hint of green such as turquoise or teal, and dark blues, such as navy or midnight blue.

Shades of red

Red is a color of love, passion, and strong emotions. Just like blue, red has many different shades, ranging from dark reds, such as burgundy to bright reds, such as crimson or scarlet. If you like to wear lipstick, you’re probably already familiar with different shades of red.

Shades of yellow

Yellow is an energetic colors that brings joy and happiness. It has many different shades, ranging from toned-down yellows, such as light yellow and cream, to move vivid ones, such as lemon or canary.

Shades of brown

Brown is a versatile color and its shades are mainly named after coffee, nuts, and chocolate. So, if you’re a coffee or chocolate lover (or both!), you might already know the different shades of brown.

Shades of pink

In psychology, pink is the color of hope. It’s a reassuring color that brings a sense of peace. Its shades range from orange-y ones, such as peach and coral to bright ones with purple and red hues, such as magenta or strawberry.

If you’re a makeup enthusiast, you may already be familiar with them!

Shades of green

Green is the color of nature. It’s everywhere. We see green trees when looking out of our window, we have green plants bring a breath of fresh air into the four walls of our home, and we dream about green palm trees while sitting in the office. Because of this versatility, green has many different shades. If you love the color green, you’ll very likely appreciate the shades of green color palette below.

Shades of black

Although we tend to consider black as a dramatic color, in psychology, as well as in branding, it’s considered to be the ultimate expression of luxury, elegance, mystery, and power.

Black also has many shades, although the differences between them are very subtle.

Shades of white

Although white may seem boring, it’s a subtle, elegant color with many beautiful shades used in interior design, fashion, or graphic design. Knowing the different shades of white may be helpful when shopping for a new wardrobe, painting your house or choosing the drapes and bedsheets for your bedroom.

Ready to make your English more colorful?

We hope that this guide has helped you get familiar with different colors in English and their shades. And we believe that the vocabulary covered in this guide will help you make your English sound more colorful!

If you loved this article and would like to learn more useful English vocabulary, check our blog or get in touch with us via the form below to see how we can help you reach your language goals.