Foncé vs. sombre
The French language has multiple words that can be used to describe different shades and tones of colors. When referring to the concept of 'dark' in relation to color, two words that come up often are 'foncé' and 'sombre'. While both can be translated as 'dark', there are subtle differences in their usage and connotation.
Foncé
The word 'foncé' is used primarily in the context of describing dark or deep hues or shades of color. It doesn't carry any additional connotations.
J'aime les couleurs foncées.
(I like dark colors.)
Il porte un costume bleu foncé.
(He is wearing a dark blue suit.)
Elle a les cheveux châtain foncé.
(She has dark chestnut hair.)
Sombre
'Sombre', on the other hand, while also used to denote 'darkness' in terms of color, has an additional connotation, as it can also mean 'dark' in a figurative sense. It's often used to describe not just physical darkness, but also moods or situations.
La pièce était sombre.
(The room was dark.)
C'est un film sombre avec une atmosphère mystérieuse.
(It's a dark movie with a mysterious atmosphere.)
Elle est dans une humeur sombre aujourd'hui.
(She's in a dark mood today.)
Summary
'Foncé' and 'sombre' both translate to 'dark', but they're used slightly differently. 'Foncé' specifically refers to dark or deep shades of color with no additional connotations, whereas 'sombre' can be used to symbolize both physical and metaphorical darkness.