Spanish · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Brown" in Spanish: café
café
Note: also: marrón
Brown in Spanish is café in much of Latin America. Marrón is also common. Say zapatos café or de color café.
Shoes
Busco zapatos café.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce café
Say it
kah-FEH
/kaˈfe/
kah-FEH. Stress FEH. Same sound as coffee.
"Brown" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| café | brown Common color word in Latin America. | Common color word in Latin America. |
| marrón | brown Also widely used; often invariable. | Also widely used; often invariable. |
| de color café | brown-colored Clear color talk. | Clear color talk. |
| café oscuro | dark brown Shade. | Shade. |
| café claro | light brown Shade. | Shade. |
How to use café in real life
- 1Shoes
Busco zapatos café.
I'm looking for brown shoes.
Café as color.
- 2Bag
Mi cinturón es café.
My belt is brown.
Es café.
- 3Shade
Quiero algo de color café.
I want something brown.
De color café.
Mistakes English speakers make with café
Incorrect: Una camisa caféa.
Correct: Una camisa café. / Una camisa de color café.
Café as a color does not take -a.
Incorrect: Un carro cafés.
Correct: Un carro café.
Color café usually stays singular after one noun.
Good to know
Café means coffee and brown. Context or de color café keeps shopping talk clear in Latin America.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying shoes
ChatPal
¿Los quieres café o negros?
Do you want them brown or black?
You
Café, por favor.
Brown, please.
ChatPal
Tenemos este par.
We have this pair.
You
Perfecto. Me llevo el café.
Perfect. I'll take the brown ones.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Brown" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brown" in Spanish
Does café change for gender as a color?
Usually no. Café stays café; say de color café.
Is marrón also correct?
Yes. Marrón is another common brown word.
How do you say dark brown?
Café oscuro.
How do you pronounce café?
kah-FEH.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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