Tu aimes le violet ?

Question

I've read through the other answers here, but still think this question is ambiguous. Without context we could be talking about purple/violet in general (so c'est) or a specific shade of purple.

For example, if we're picking out paint colors and I said "Do you like the purple?" I'm talking about a specific thing, would that not be Il est...?

Edit: And it just came up again, this time as "Tu aimes l'école?" That again is lacking context, are we walking about a specific school or school in general?

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Joseph,
For both examples mentioned in the query, the English helps distinguih of it is generalor specific:

Do you like purple ? = Tu aimes le violet ?
Do you like school? = Tu aimes l'école ?

In both cases, the English translation does not include "the ...". Therefore, it means "in general" rather than a specific thing.
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Joseph Monk · Answer

I'm sorry, but you are wrong about your English.

In general you would say "Do you like purple." But, depending on context, you could say both "Do you like purple" or "Do you like THE purple" to mean a specific thing.

For example, picking between two items where they are effectively the same besides color. You could use EITHER phrase (with or without the) and through context know that you are talking about a specific purple.

Or, as in my previous example, picking paint colors.

Your answer says that Tu aimes le violet? and Tu aimes l'école? are 100% ALWAYS going to be "in general". So then how do you say, Do you like THE school? or Do you like THE purple?

The fact that this exact question has been brought up multiple times seems to hint at it being ambiguous, because it lacks context and could be speaking in general or about a specific thing.