Colors

1. rosso

   Red

   Usage

   Red holds special significance in Italian culture: Ferrari's "Rosso Corsa" racing red, tomato sauce, and the Italian flag

   Grammar Note

   Agrees with noun gender/number: rosso (m.sg.), rossa (f.sg.), rossi (m.pl.), rosse (f.pl.). Example: Ferrari rossa

2. arancione

   Orange

   Grammar Note

   "Arancione" is the same for m. and f. singular; plural: arancioni. Derived from the fruit "arancia" (orange)

3. giallo

   Yellow

   Usage

   In Italy, "giallo" (yellow) is also the genre term for mystery/thriller novels and films

   Grammar Note

   Full agreement: giallo (m.sg.), gialla (f.sg.), gialli (m.pl.), gialle (f.pl.)

4. verde

   Green

   Grammar Note

   "Verde" is the same for m. and f. singular; plural: verdi. Example: un prato verde, foglie verdi

5. blu marino

   Dark blue / Navy

   Grammar Note

   "Blu marino" is a compound color. Note that "blu" itself is invariable in Italian (no agreement endings)

6. azzurro / celeste

   Sky blue

   Usage

   "Azzurro" is the symbolic color of Italian national sports teams, nicknamed "Gli Azzurri" (the Blues)

   Grammar Note

   "Azzurro" inflects fully: azzurro/azzurra/azzurri/azzurre. "Celeste" is the same for m. and f.; plural: celesti

7. viola / porpora

   Purple

   Grammar Note

   "Viola" is invariable (no agreement). "Porpora" (deep crimson-purple) is also invariable: una sciarpa viola, dei fiori viola

8. rosa

   Pink

   Grammar Note

   "Rosa" is invariable in Italian: una gonna rosa (a pink skirt), dei guanti rosa (pink gloves)

9. marrone

   Brown

   Grammar Note

   "Marrone" is the same for m. and f. singular; plural: marroni. Example: un cappotto marrone

10. bianco

    White

    Grammar Note

    Full agreement: bianco (m.sg.), bianca (f.sg.), bianchi (m.pl.), bianche (f.pl.)

11. nero

    Black

    Grammar Note

    Full agreement: nero (m.sg.), nera (f.sg.), neri (m.pl.), nere (f.pl.)

12. grigio

    Gray

    Grammar Note

    Full agreement: grigio (m.sg.), grigia (f.sg.), grigi (m.pl.), grigie (f.pl.)

13. blu

    Blue

    Grammar Note

    "Blu" is invariable — no agreement endings (una macchina blu, due macchine blu). Italian reserves "blu" for the deeper shades and uses "azzurro" for lighter blue

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