Jun
15
Color Coded, Part 2: Blanco y negro
There are quite a few idiomatic expressions that refer to the colors black (negro) or white (blanco) in Spanish. Many of them you could probably figure out their meaning from the context in which they are used. But others might be harder to adivinar their exact meaning without a little cheat sheet like the one below, especially since the word blanco, besides being the color white can also mean “target.”
(By the way, notice how the English phrase “black & white” gets reversed in Spanish to “blanco y negro.” For example: black and white movies = películas en blanco y negro)
Here are some common Spanish expressions using blanco or negro.
ESTAR SIN BLANCA: To be broke, to have no money.
DAR EN EL BLANCO: To hit the mark, to hit the target.
EN BLANCO: Blank, as in, “La página estaba en blanco.” “The page was blank.”
Which leads to…. ESTAR EN BLANCO (to draw a blank, to have no idea) which is essentially the same as QUEDARSE EN BLANCO (to have one’s mind go blank).
PASAR LA NOCHE EN BLANCO: to suffer a sleepless night, to be unable to fall asleep
ESTAR NEGRO: To be very angry or to be extremely tanned, depending on the context. 
VERLO TODO MUY NEGRO: To be pessimistic about something
PASARLAS NEGRAS: To have a hard time. Andrés las pasó negras cuando perdió su trabajo.
TENER LA NEGRA/TRAER LA NEGRA: To be unlucky, to bring bad luck. (Ese tio me trae la negra. That dude brings me bad luck.)
OK, the first time I heard this expression I was like ¿Qué qué? because my American mind jumped to the erroneous conclusion that it had something to do with race and implying that black people brought bad luck or something. Fortunately, I was mistaken. Turns out “la negra” refers to playing cards or fortune telling cards. The card containing the Ace of Spades historically was considered a bad omen.
Enjoyed this post? Check out Color Coded, Part 1: Verde. Also, get more insights into Spanish verb phrases at Twitter.com/ReVerbSpanish.
do you think most of the phrases you share with us are common to latin american countries or primarily to spain? would it be safe to say that all your material is known in spain and a portion is also used in latin america? thanks
Hi Joel,
Thanks for your question. I try hard to focus primarily on expressions that are used universally or are easily understood by native Spanish speakers regardless of geography and nationality. That said, I will admit that I am partial to Castilian Spanish since I’m living in Spain and the bulk of my exposure to the Spanish language has been of the Iberian-Peninsula variety.
Your question inspired me to write a blog entry about this, so you can find a much longer response from me here:
http://spanish-podcast.com/2009/06/19/colloquial-spanish/
¡Gracias por leer!
This is a great culture “teachable moment”. I will definitely be using this website in my classroom. This is a great resource for my students but for myself as well. Thanks this is awesome!
De nada, Traci. Thanks so much for your comment. And yes, please tell your students and your other Spanish language teaching colleagues about this blog. ¡Gracias!
One I see often in the papers is “arma blanca” – a non gun type of weapon or bladed weapon
Yes, Brian, that’s another good term to know. See that one frequently in the news reports about crime.