Hey there, young language explorers! Today we’re going to dive into the vibrant world of purple in Spanish. The main word for purple in Spanish is “morado”. It’s pronounced like this: moh-RAH-doh. Easy, right?

But wait, there’s more! Spanish has other words for purple too. Let’s check them out:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
morado | purple |
púrpura | purple |
violeta | violet |
Each of these words has its own special use. “Morado” is the most common, “púrpura” is often used for royal or deep purples, and “violeta” is closer to violet.
Purple as an Adjective
In Spanish, we use “morado” as an adjective to describe things that are purple.
How to Use Purple Adjectives
When you want to say something is purple, you put “morado” after the noun. This is different from English, where we put the color before the noun. Let’s look at some examples:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
La flor morada | The purple flower |
El globo morado | The purple balloon |
La uva morada | The purple grape |
El lápiz morado | The purple pencil |

Remember, in Spanish, adjectives change to match the noun they’re describing. So if the noun is feminine (like “flor” or “uva”), we use “morada”. If it’s masculine (like “globo” or “lápiz”), we use “morado”.
Shades of Purple
Just like in English, Spanish has words for different shades of purple. Here are some:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
lila | lilac |
lavanda | lavender |
berenjena | eggplant |
ciruela | plum |
amatista | amethyst |
You can use these words as both nouns and adjectives. For example:
- Me encanta el color lila. (I love the lilac color.)
- Tengo una camisa lavanda. (I have a lavender shirt.)
Ser and Estar with Purple
In Spanish, we have two verbs that mean “to be”: ser and estar. This can be tricky, but don’t worry! With colors, we usually use ser.
For example:
- El cielo es morado al atardecer. (The sky is purple at sunset.)
- Mi color favorito es púrpura. (My favorite color is purple.)
But we use estar when the color is a temporary condition or the result of a change:
- La uva está morada porque está madura. (The grape is purple because it’s ripe.)
- El semáforo está en morado. (The traffic light is purple.)

Purple as a Noun
Sometimes, we talk about the color purple itself. In this case, we use “el morado” or “el púrpura” as nouns.
Spanish | English |
---|---|
El morado es mi color favorito | Purple is my favorite color |
El púrpura simboliza la realeza | Purple symbolizes royalty |
El violeta es un color relajante | Violet is a relaxing color |
In Spanish, when we use colors as nouns, we usually add the article “el” before them.
Expressing Preferences with Purple
Want to tell someone you like or don’t like purple? Here’s how:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
Me gusta el morado | I like purple |
No me gusta el color púrpura | I don’t like the color purple |
Adoro el tono violeta | I adore the violet shade |
Prefiero el lila al morado | I prefer lilac to purple |

Words and Phrases with Purple
Spanish has some fun expressions that use the color purple. Check these out:
Spanish | English | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Ponerse morado | To pig out (eat too much) | This phrase comes from the idea that eating too much can make your face turn purple! |
No ver ni torta | To not see a thing (very dark) | “Torta” here means “purple mark”, implying it’s so dark you can’t even see a bruise |
Sangre azul | Blue blood (royalty) | While this says “blue”, it actually refers to the purple-ish color of veins |
Vocabulary Related to Purple
Here are some purple things you might see around you:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
uvas | grapes |
berenjenas | eggplants |
lavanda | lavender |
violetas | violets |
ciruelas | plums |
amatistas | amethysts |
morados | bruises |
Can you think of more purple things? Try describing them in Spanish!
Cultural Significance of Purple
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, purple has special meanings:
- In Catholic traditions, purple is associated with Lent and penitence.
- In some countries, purple is linked to feminism and women’s rights movements.
- The purple jacaranda tree is an important symbol in many Latin American countries.

Let’s Practice!
Now it’s your turn to practice. Try these exercises:
- Describe your room using purple: “En mi habitación, tengo…” (In my room, I have…)
- Express your opinion about purple: “Pienso que el color morado es…” (I think the color purple is…)
- Name five purple fruits or vegetables in Spanish.
Remember, practice makes perfect!

Wrapping Up
Great job, language learners! Now you know how to talk about the color purple in Spanish. Remember, “morado” is your go-to word, but don’t forget about “púrpura” and “violeta” too.
Purple isn’t just a color in Spanish – it’s a whole world of expressions, cultural meanings, and fun vocabulary. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be describing purple things like a pro!
¡Hasta la próxima, amigos del español! (Until next time, Spanish friends!)