If you are a fan of crossword puzzles, you might have come across the clue “Spanish for red” in the New York Times mini crossword. The answer is ROJO, which is the most common way to say red in Spanish. But did you know that there are other ways to say red in Spanish, depending on the context and the shade of the color? In this article, we will explore the different ways to say red in Spanish, and how you can use them to improve your vocabulary and grammar.

Rojo: The Basic Red

Rojo is the most basic and general way to say red in Spanish. It can be used to describe the color of objects, clothes, flags, flowers, and more. For example:

• La camiseta de Diego es roja. (Diego’s T-shirt is red.)
• La bandera de China es roja y amarilla. (The flag of China is red and yellow.)
• Me gustan las rosas rojas. (I like red roses.)

Rojo is an adjective, which means that it has to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. If the noun is masculine and singular, the adjective is rojo. If the noun is feminine and singular, the adjective is roja. If the noun is masculine and plural, the adjective is rojos. If the noun is feminine and plural, the adjective is rojas. For example:

• Tengo un coche rojo. (I have a red car.)
• Tiene dos coches rojos. (He has two red cars.)
• Tienes una flor roja. (You have a red flower.)
• Tenemos diez flores rojas. (We have ten red flowers.)

Colorado: The Blushing Red

Colorado is another way to say red in Spanish, but it is not as common as rojo. It is usually used to describe the color of the skin when someone is blushing, embarrassed, or sunburned. For example:

• Ana se puso colorada cuando le dije que me gustaba. (Ana turned red when I told her I liked her.)
• Luis tiene la cara colorada por el sol. (Luis has a red face from the sun.)

Colorado can also be used to describe the color of some fruits, vegetables, and animals, such as apples, tomatoes, lobsters, and cardinals. For example:

• Me gusta comer manzanas coloradas. (I like to eat red apples.)
• Los tomates colorados son buenos para la salsa. (Red tomatoes are good for the sauce.)
• Los langostinos colorados son muy caros. (Red lobsters are very expensive.)
• El cardenal es un pájaro colorado. (The cardinal is a red bird.)

Like rojo, colorado is an adjective that has to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The only difference is that colorado does not change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns, only for singular and plural nouns. For example:

• Tengo un sombrero colorado. (I have a red hat.)
• Tiene dos sombreros colorados. (He has two red hats.)
• Tienes una bufanda colorada. (You have a red scarf.)
• Tenemos diez bufandas coloradas. (We have ten red scarves.)

Tinto: The Wine Red

Tinto is another way to say red in Spanish, but it is very specific and limited. It is only used to describe the color of red wine, or anything that has the same dark red color as red wine. For example:

• Me gusta el vino tinto. (I like red wine.)
• El cielo se puso tinto al atardecer. (The sky turned red at sunset.)
• Ella tiene el pelo tinto. (She has red hair.)

Tinto is also an adjective that has to agree in number with the noun it modifies, but it does not change its ending for gender. For example:

• Tengo un vestido tinto. (I have a red dress.)
• Tiene dos vestidos tintos. (He has two red dresses.)
• Tienes una camisa tinta. (You have a red shirt.)
• Tenemos diez camisas tintas. (We have ten red shirts.)

Other Ways to Say Red in Spanish

Besides rojo, colorado, and tinto, there are other ways to say red in Spanish, but they are not as common or as general. They are usually used to describe specific shades or tones of red, such as:

• Carmesí: crimson
• Escarlata: scarlet
• Granate: maroon
• Rubí: ruby
• Bermellón: vermilion
• Coral: coral
• Magenta: magenta
• Fucsia: fuchsia
• Rosa: pink

These adjectives also have to agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, but they follow different rules depending on their ending. For example:

• Tengo una chaqueta carmesí. (I have a crimson jacket.)
• Tiene dos chaquetas carmesíes. (He has two crimson jackets.)
• Tienes una falda escarlata. (You have a scarlet skirt.)
• Tenemos diez faldas escarlatas. (We have ten scarlet skirts.)
• Tengo un bolso granate. (I have a maroon purse.)
• Tiene dos bolsos granates. (He has two maroon purses.)
• Tienes una corbata rubí. (You have a ruby tie.)
• Tenemos diez corbatas rubíes. (We have ten ruby ties.)

How to Learn Spanish Colors with the NYT Crossword Puzzle

Now that you know the different ways to say red in Spanish, you might be wondering how you can use them to learn Spanish. One fun and challenging way is to solve the New York Times mini crossword puzzle, which often includes clues related to Spanish colors. According to the New York Times, the mini crossword puzzle is a smaller version of the regular crossword puzzle, with a 5×5 grid and fewer clues. It is designed to be solved in a few minutes, and it is updated every day. You can access the mini crossword puzzle online or on the NYT app.

The mini crossword puzzle is a great way to test your knowledge of Spanish colors, as well as other Spanish words and phrases. You can also learn new vocabulary and grammar by looking up the answers and their meanings. For example, if you see the clue “Spanish for red”, you can try to remember the different ways to say red in Spanish, and see which one fits the grid. If you are not sure, you can use a dictionary or a translator to check the answer. You can also read the explanation of the answer, which usually provides some context and information about the word or phrase. For example, for the clue “Spanish for red”, the explanation is:

• ROJO is the Spanish word for red. It is also the name of a popular Mexican soccer team, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, also known as Chivas. The team’s colors are red and white, and its fans are known as Chivahermanos (brothers of the goat).

By solving the mini crossword puzzle, you can practice your Spanish skills and learn something new every day. You can also challenge yourself by trying to solve the puzzle faster, or by using only Spanish clues. You can also compare your results with other players, and see how you rank among them. The mini crossword puzzle is a fun and engaging way to learn Spanish with the New York Times.

Conclusion

Red is a simple and common color, but it has many different meanings and expressions in Spanish. By learning the different ways to say red in Spanish, you can enrich your vocabulary and grammar, and communicate more effectively in Spanish. You can also use the New York Times mini crossword puzzle as a tool to practice and improve your Spanish skills, while having fun and learning something new. The next time you see the clue “Spanish for red” in the crossword puzzle, you will be ready to solve it and impress your friends.