Friday Focus: Beyond the Basics

More than just red, blue or green

We all learn our basic colours early on: red, blue, yellow, green. But as you move towards fluency in English, you'll discover a whole spectrum of words that allow you to describe the world around you with much greater precision and vibrancy.

When colour is a key feature of something, or when you want to express subtle nuances, expanding your colour vocabulary is essential.

Describing Shades and Tones:

Instead of just "red," consider these more specific options:

• Crimson: A rich, deep red, often with a slightly purplish hue.
  Example: The queen wore a stunning crimson gown.

• Scarlet: A bright, vivid red, sometimes with a hint of orange.
  Example: The poppies in the field were a vibrant scarlet.

• Maroon: A dark reddish-brown.
  Example: He drove a classic maroon sports car.

• Burgundy: A dark red, similar to the colour of red wine.
  Example: The restaurant walls were painted a warm burgundy.

• Rose: A soft, pinkish-red, like the colour of a rose petal.
  Example: She blushed a delicate rose.

Similarly, for "blue":