List of Common Colors in English for Beginners

Use this list of 30 basic colors in English to help students learn color vocabulary and describe the world around them. Colors are often one of the first topics taught in ESL courses for kids and beginners. Once learners master the basic color names, they can begin describing objects, people, and places more clearly. Below, you’ll find a list of color names with pictures, as well as a helpful video for pronunciation practice and free teaching resources.

Learn Color Names in English

Here’s a helpful video for learning the names of colors in English. It introduces 30 color words and includes pronunciation, so learners can listen and repeat to practice saying the words aloud.

30 Basic Colors In English With Pictures

red

blue

green

yellow

purple

pink

orange

brown

black

white

gray

gold

silver

navy blue

sky blue

lime green

teal

indigo

magenta

violet

khaki

salmon

crimson

lavender

plum

blue violet

olive

cyan

maroon

beige

The Seven Colors of The Rainbow

Young learners often begin learning about colors through the seven colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These are often remembered with the acronym ROYGBIV. This is a little different from the version in the popular rainbow song that many children learn, which usually includes just six colors and combines indigo and violet as “purple.”

Which version you teach will depend on your goals and the needs of your class. If you’re introducing colors to young learners for the first time, the simpler rainbow song version is ideal because the focus is on learning basic color vocabulary. If you’re teaching a science-focused lesson about light and color, it’s better to teach the full seven-color spectrum.

Resources For Teaching Colors

I hope you found this list of color names in English useful. Before you go, check out these free resources for teaching the color names:

• Flashcards for Teaching Colors
• Colors In English PowerPoint Lesson
• Color Vocabulary Worksheets
• Color Game For Kids
• ESL Lesson Plan About Colors