It really doesn't matter whether or not you have a good memory. You can learn to say colors in French with just a little practice.

Steps

  1. 1
    Learn your colors:[1]
    • Red/Rouge
    • Pink/Rose
    • Orange/Orange
    • Yellow/Jaune
    • Green/Vert
    • Blue/Bleu
    • Purple/Violet
    • Gray/Gris
    • Black/Noir
    • White/Blanc
    • Brown/Brun or Marron
  2. 2
    Learn basic French pronunciation rules. "R" is pronounced from the back of the mouth, close to the throat (think of a softer version of Hebrew "ch"). "A" is a short "O" sound. In this article, "J" is a sound that is somewhat of a cross between "j" and the "sh" noise. Softer than J but not quite "sh".[2]
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  3. 3
    Keep the following in mind when pronouncing individual colors:[3]
    • Red/Rouge: "Rouge" is pronounced just like the type of makeup (if that's unclear, it's pretty much "rooj"). The only difference is that the "r" comes softly from the back of the mouth.
    • Pink/Rose: "Rose" is pronounced just like you would in English, but again with that "French" R sound.
    • Orange/Orange: In English, you emphasize the first syllable but in French you're going to emphasize the second syllable and make sure that the "a" makes a short "o" sound. Pronounce it like "oh RONJ".
    • Yellow/Jaune: Think of the French name Jean, a form of John. Say "Jean" but make the kind of short "o" noise you make more into sounding like the word "oh".
    • Green/Vert: The T is silent. Pronounce it like "air" with a V in front.
    • Blue/Bleu: Sounds the same.
    • Purple/Violet: VEE-oh-lay.
    • Gray/Gris: Think of the word "agree". Leave off the "a" at the beginning and there you go!
    • Black/Noir: Have you ever heard of filme noir, a genre of American cinema a few decades ago? Noir is pronounced like that--and if you're still not sure: no-R (pronounce that R like the letter).
    • White/Blanc: Think of the word "blank". Now make the "a" noise into a short "o" noise.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I say "how are you?" in French?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends on the level of formality. Formal: "Comment t'allez-vous?" Semi-formal (can say this to teachers): "Comment ça va?" Casual: "ça va?"
  • Question
    What is the French word for "sky?"
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    "Ciel."
  • Question
    How do I say "black rose" in French?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Black is "noir," pronounced as "NWAR," rose is the same, "rose," pronounces as "ROZ."
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Warnings

  • Try to practice speaking new French words before you try to use them in conversations. If you make a mistake, certain people may not understand what you are saying.
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 105,813 times.
99 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 17
Updated: September 3, 2022
Views: 105,813
Categories: French
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