Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Like many of you, I’ve had times when I’ve felt un coup de blues. Those quiet, reflective moments when everything feels just a little off. And in those times, I often turn to comforting things like a slow walk, a good cup of tea, or learning some more French!
That’s why I thought it would be lovely to explore something calming and colourful: shades of blue in French.
Learning how to describe different blues in French is not only soothing, it’s also brilliant for expanding your vocabulary and adding richness to your conversations. So, let’s dive into the bleu together.
Popular Shades of Blue in French
Here are some beautifully descriptive shades of blue in French to brighten your vocabulary:
-
bleu acier – steel blue
-
bleu ardoise – slate blue
-
bleu canard – peacock blue (un paon = a peacock)
-
bleu ciel / bleu horizon – sky blue
-
bleu glacier – ice blue
-
bleu indigo – indigo blue
-
bleu lavande – lavender blue
-
bleu marine – navy blue
-
bleu outremer – ultramarine
-
bleu nuit – midnight blue
-
bleu pétrole – petrol blue
-
bleu roi – royal blue
-
bleu turquoise – turquoise blue
-
bleu-vert – blue-green
Did you spot that little hyphen in the last one? That’s important!
A Grammar Tip You’ll Love
Let me share a little win when it comes to French grammar.
If a colour is made up of two words, like bleu-vert or bleu nuit, you don’t need to worry about making the colour agree with gender or number. What a relief!
Here’s what that looks like in action:
-
Il a les yeux bleus – He has blue eyes
-
Il a les yeux bleu-vert – He has blue-green eyes
-
Il a les yeux bleu nuit – He has midnight blue eyes
If only all grammar rules were this kind!
Why This Matters
Whether you’re describing a beautiful sea view, your favourite jumper, or even the mood in a poem, having a richer vocabulary of shades of blue in French makes your language feel more natural, expressive, and… well, French!
It’s also interesting how both English and French link the colour blue to emotions — le blues, un coup de blues, se sentir bleu. So the next time you’re describing a feeling or a view, you’ll have just the right word.
I hope this brings a little colour and calm to your day. Let me know your favourite shade of bleu — or if there’s a colour you’d love to explore next.
À très bientôt,
Frannie x
Want to Sound More French When You Speak?
Come join my next FREE challenge!
Frannie’s 11-Day French Fix!
11 Days to conquer 11 everyday words that I know flummox English speakers learning French!
16th-26th June 2025
Recent Comments