Mastering Arabic Colors: A Beginner’s Guide to Vocabulary & Grammar

Learning Arabic colors is one of the most rewarding first steps in mastering the language. Whether you are describing a beautiful sunset or shopping in a bazaar, colors are essential for daily communication.

However, Arabic colors function differently than in English. Did you know that colors change based on gender? Or that "Orange" follows a different grammar rule than "Red"?

In this guide, we will break down the vocabulary, pronunciation, and the essential grammar rules you need to use Arabic colors correctly.

1. The 6 Standard Colors (The Basics)

In Arabic, the primary colors follow a specific rhythmic pattern. If you listen closely, they all sound similar. They follow the pattern af′al (أَفْعَل).

Here are the masculine singular forms used for masculine nouns:

Pro Tip: Notice how they all start with Alif (ا)? This is the "key" to remembering standard Arabic colors.

 

2. Gender Agreement: Masculine vs. Feminine

This is the part that confuses most beginners, but there is a simple hack to remember it.

In Arabic, adjectives must match the gender of the noun.

• Masculine Pattern: af′al (e.g., Ahmar)
• Feminine Pattern: fa′laa′ (e.g., Hamraa')

If you are describing a feminine noun (like a car, a bag, or the sun), the color must be in feminine form.

Examples in Context:

Masculine: قَمِيصٌ أَبْيَضُ (Qameesun abyad) — A white shirt.
Feminine: حَقِيبَةٌ بَيْضاءُ (Haqibatun baydaa') — A white bag.

One more example: هُوَ رَجُلٌ أَبْيَضُ (huwa rajulun abyadun)  —  He is white person 

 

3. The "Nisba" Colors (Brown, Orange, Pink)

Not all colors follow the rules above! Some colors are derived from nouns (like fruits or flowers). These represent the "Nisba" adjective class (ending in yy).

These are easier because you simply add a Ta-Marbuta (ة) to make them feminine.

Nisbah color pattern in Arabic

 Example:

•     هَذَا دُبٌّ بُنِّيّ (Hatha dubbun bunni) - This is a brown bear.
•     هَذِهِ طَاوِلَةٌ بُنِّيَّة (Hathihi tawilatun bunniyya) - This is a brown table.

4. Plural Forms (Advanced)

When you are describing a group of items, the color changes again. For the standard colors (Red, Blue, etc.), the plural pattern is usually fu′l (فُعْل).

•     White (Plural): بِيضٌ (Beed)
•     Red (Plural): حُمْرٌ (Humr)
•     Green (Plural): خُضْرٌ (Khudr)

5. Practice Sentences: Putting It All Together

Let's test your knowledge. Try to identify why the color is written in that specific form.
 

1.    هَذَا قَمِيصٌ أَبْيَضُ

•         (Hādhā qameesun abyadu)
•         Meaning: This is a white shirt.
•         Rule: Masculine noun (qamees) takes the masculine color (abyad).

 2.   عِنْدِي كُرَةٌ خَضْراءُ

•         (ʿindī kuratun khaḍraa'u)
•         Meaning: I have a green ball.
•         Rule: Feminine noun (kura) takes the feminine color (khadraa).

 3.    ذَلِكَ بَيْتٌ رَمَادِيّ

•         (Dhālika baytun ramadiyy)
•         Meaning: That is a grey house.
•         Rule: Ramadi is a Nisba adjective, so it doesn't change structure, it just takes the masculine ending.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does the color come before or after the noun in Arabic? 

A: In Arabic, the adjective (color) always comes after the noun. For example, you say "Car Red" (Sayyara Hamraa), not "Red Car."

Q: How do I say "Light" or "Dark" colors? 

A: You can add distinct words after the color:

•     Light: Fatih (فَاتِح) — e.g., Azraq Fatih (Light Blue).
•     Dark: Ghamiq (غَامِق) — e.g., Ahmar Ghamiq (Dark Red).

Q: Are Arabic colors capitalized? 

A: No, the Arabic script does not have capital letters. If writing in transliterated English, you do not need to capitalize them unless they start a sentence.

Conclusion

Understanding colors in Arabic involves more than just memorizing a list; it requires looking at the "gender" of the world around you. Start by mastering the Big 6 (White, Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue), and practice pairing them with objects in your house.

Ready to take the next step? Grab a sticky note, write the Arabic color on it, and stick it to an object of that color in your room today!

Arabic Color and Grammar Quiz