A1 Colours Vocabulary

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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Quick Answer

These are ten useful A1 colour words: red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, black, white, pink, and brown. Study the pictures, read the examples, then practise with flashcards and review.

These are the ten most common colours in everyday English. Start with the primary colours (red, blue, yellow), then learn the secondary and neutral colours below.

CEFR A1 – Colours

A1 Colours Vocabulary

Learn ten everyday colour words with pictures, short examples, practice questions, flashcards, and a review queue.

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Study Cards

Read the word, look at the picture, and say the example sentence.

How to Use Colour Words

In English, the colour goes before the noun: a red apple, a blue car, a yellow banana. Do not say “an apple red”. The colour comes first, then the thing.

You can also use colours with the verb to be: The sky is blue. My shoes are black.

Each Colour, One at a Time

Here is each colour on its own: what it means, three example sentences and the mistake to avoid. Use the flashcards above to practise them together.

Step 1: Red

Red is the colour of strawberries, tomatoes, fire trucks, and STOP signs. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a red car”, not “a car red”.

Examples:

  • I have a red bag. (describing one thing)
  • The apple is red. (another example)
  • She wears a red dress to the party. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “red” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag red.
✓ I have a red bag.

Step 2: Blue

Blue is the colour of the sky on a sunny day, the sea, and your jeans. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a blue car”, not “a car blue”.

Examples:

  • The sky is blue. (describing one thing)
  • He has blue eyes. (another example)
  • I wear a blue shirt to work. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “blue” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag blue.
✓ I have a blue bag.

Step 3: Yellow

Yellow is the colour of bananas, the sun, lemons, and school buses. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a yellow car”, not “a car yellow”.

Examples:

  • A banana is yellow. (describing one thing)
  • The sun looks yellow. (another example)
  • She has a yellow umbrella. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “yellow” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag yellow.
✓ I have a yellow bag.

Step 4: Green

Green is the colour of grass, trees, and most leaves. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a green car”, not “a car green”.

Examples:

  • Grass is green. (describing one thing)
  • I have a green jacket. (another example)
  • Frogs are usually green. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “green” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag green.
✓ I have a green bag.

Step 5: Orange

Orange is the colour of pumpkins, traffic cones, and fire. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “an orange car”, not “a car orange”.

Examples:

  • The pumpkin is orange. (describing one thing)
  • She wears orange shoes. (another example)
  • Many leaves turn orange in autumn. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “orange” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag orange.
✓ I have a orange bag.

Step 6: Purple

Purple is the colour of grapes, eggplants (aubergines), and lavender flowers. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a purple car”, not “a car purple”.

Examples:

  • I love purple flowers. (describing one thing)
  • She has a purple umbrella. (another example)
  • Grapes are usually purple. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “purple” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag purple.
✓ I have a purple bag.

Step 7: Black

Black is the colour of the sky at midnight, coal, and most pianos. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a black car”, not “a car black”.

Examples:

  • My cat is black. (describing one thing)
  • He wears a black jacket. (another example)
  • The phone is black. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “black” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag black.
✓ I have a black bag.

Step 8: White

White is the colour of milk, snow, clouds, and fresh paper. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a white car”, not “a car white”.

Examples:

  • Snow is white. (describing one thing)
  • I have a white shirt. (another example)
  • The walls are white. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “white” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag white.
✓ I have a white bag.

Step 9: Pink

Pink is the colour of flamingos, cherry blossoms, and bubble gum. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a pink car”, not “a car pink”.

Examples:

  • She has a pink dress. (describing one thing)
  • The flowers are pink. (another example)
  • I see a pink car. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “pink” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag pink.
✓ I have a pink bag.

Step 10: Brown

Brown is the colour of chocolate, tree wood, and most coffee. In English, colour words go BEFORE the noun: “a brown car”, not “a car brown”.

Examples:

  • The bear is brown. (describing one thing)
  • I have brown hair. (another example)
  • The table is brown. (in real life)

Common mistake

Putting “brown” AFTER the noun

✗ I have a bag brown.
✓ I have a brown bag.

Quick Check Quiz

Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

1. Strawberries are ______.

2. The sky is ______.

3. A banana is ______.

4. Grass and trees are ______.

5. Snow is ______.

Choose one colour and use it to describe something near you. Start with red in everyday sentences.

Keep Going

Now you know your colours, you can describe the food and drink you learned earlier: a red apple, a yellow banana, a white glass of milk. Browse all A1 Vocabulary lessons to keep practising.

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