When learning French, one of the first sets of vocabulary you’ll want to master is that of colors and shapes. This basic, yet important, lexical field allows us to describe objects, scenes, and art, giving us the ability to convey visual observations and participate in conversations concerning physical descriptions.

Couleurs (Colors):

Rouge – Red. It is associated with passion, danger, or love.
La rose est rouge. (The rose is red.)

Bleu – Blue. This serene color can describe anything from the color of the sky to feelings of sadness in expressions.
Le ciel est bleu. (The sky is blue.)

Vert – Green. Green is the color of nature and is often used to talk about environmentally friendly initiatives.
Les feuilles sont vertes en été. (The leaves are green in summer.)

Jaune – Yellow. This bright and cheery color can describe the sun or the color of many flowers.
Le soleil est jaune. (The sun is yellow.)

Noir – Black. The color of the night, often associated with elegance or mystery.
Mon chat est noir. (My cat is black.)

Blanc – White. A symbol of purity and simplicity, white is a common color described in French.
La neige est blanche. (The snow is white.)

Orange – Orange. Both a color and a fruit, this word is used the same way as it is in English.
Les oranges sont orange. (The oranges are orange.)

Violet – Purple. A color often associated with royalty or luxury.
Les violettes sont violettes. (The violets are purple.)

Rose – Pink. The tender color often related to femininity and tenderness.
Le flamant est rose. (The flamingo is pink.)

Gris – Grey. A neutral color that is often used to describe overcast weather or urban environments.
Le ciel est gris aujourd’hui. (The sky is grey today.)

Marron – Brown. This earthy tone is used to describe the color of wood, soil, or chocolate.
Les chaussures sont marron. (The shoes are brown.)

Formes (Shapes):

Carré – Square. A shape with four equal sides and angles.
La table est carrée. (The table is square.)

Rond – Round or circular. A shape without corners and with a consistent distance from its center to any point along its edge.
La roue est ronde. (The wheel is round.)

Triangle – Triangle. A shape with three sides and three corners.
Le panneau est en forme de triangle. (The sign is triangular in shape.)

Rectangle – Rectangle. A four-sided shape where opposite sides are equal in length and all angles are right angles.
La porte est rectangulaire. (The door is rectangular.)

Ovale – Oval. A curved shape similar to a circle but elongated.
Le miroir est ovale. (The mirror is oval.)

Losange – Diamond. A shape with four sides of equal length where opposite sides are parallel, and angles are not right angles.
Le kite est en forme de losange. (The kite is diamond-shaped.)

Mastering these words will expand your French vocabulary and enhance your ability to describe everyday items and scenes with ease. As you continue your studies, you’ll discover even more colors and shapes, along with the nuances and variations that enrich the French language.