Colors

1. cotschen / cotschna

   Red

   Usage

   A basic word for naming a colour when shopping. It also appears when ordering wine as vin cotschen (red wine). The masculine form comes first, then the feminine

   Grammar Note

   An adjective that agrees with the noun's gender: cotschen (m.) / cotschna (f.). It follows the noun (vin cotschen, la carta cotschna)

2. oransch / oranscha

   Orange

   Usage

   The colour orange. It shares its stem with the fruit (l'oranscha), and the ending follows the gender of the noun

   Grammar Note

   An adjective: oransch (m.) / oranscha (f.). It follows the noun

3. mellen / melna

   Yellow

   Usage

   The colour yellow. The masculine mellen and feminine melna differ noticeably, so it helps to know both forms when listening in shops

   Grammar Note

   An adjective. The ending -en becomes -na in the feminine (mellen → melna), the same pattern as cotschen / cotschna

4. verd / verda

   Green

   Usage

   The colour green, used for vegetables and clothes. Masculine verd, feminine verda

   Grammar Note

   An adjective. The feminine adds -a. It follows the noun

5. blau cler / blau clera

   Light blue

   Usage

   Used for a pale, bright blue. It is built as "blue (blau) + light (cler)". Masculine first, then feminine

   Grammar Note

   blau stays the same; only cler changes (cler / clera). It means a sky or pale blue here, not navy

6. violet / violetta

   Purple

   Usage

   The colour purple or violet. Masculine violet, feminine violetta. Useful for flowers and clothes

   Grammar Note

   An adjective. The feminine adds -a and doubles the consonant (violet → violetta)

7. rosa

   Pink

   Usage

   The colour pink. It looks the same as the flower name (la rosa) and does not change with gender

   Grammar Note

   An adjective that keeps one form for both genders. It follows the noun

8. brin / brina

   Brown

   Usage

   The colour brown, used for leather goods, wood and similar items. Masculine brin, feminine brina

   Grammar Note

   An adjective; the feminine adds -a. A dark brown adds stgir (dark): brin stgir / brin stgira

9. alv / alva

   White

   Usage

   The colour white. White wine is vin alv. Masculine alv, feminine alva

   Grammar Note

   An adjective; the feminine adds -a. It follows the noun (vin alv)

10. nair / naira

    Black

    Usage

    The colour black, used for clothes and shoes. Masculine nair, feminine naira

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; the feminine adds -a. It follows the noun

11. grisch / grischa

    Gray

    Usage

    The colour grey. It shares its root with the canton name Grischun (Graubünden). Masculine grisch, feminine grischa

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; the feminine adds -a. It follows the noun

12. blau

    Blue

    Usage

    The colour blue. It is spelled like German blau and keeps one form for both genders. A light blue is blau cler

    Grammar Note

    An adjective that keeps one form for both genders. It follows the noun

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