SyntaxError: expected ':'

Q: Does else need a colon?

Yes, else: and try: too, even though nothing follows them on the line.

Updated October 25, 2026

The Python error "expected ':'" means a line that opens a block, such as if, for, def or class, does not end with a colon. Where the colon goes, and the fix.

What you see

main.py

for name in ["ada", "grace"]
    print(name)

Python 3.15 prints

  File "/home/me/project/main.py", line 1
    for name in ["ada", "grace"]
                                ^
SyntaxError: expected ':'

What it means

if, elif, else, for, while, def, class, with, try, except, finally, match and case lines must end with a colon, which says that a block follows. This for line has none.

Python 3.10 added this message. Older versions said "invalid syntax" at the same spot.

Why it happens

A colon left off the end of a block line, as in the example.
A semicolon or a full stop typed instead, which is easy to do on some keyboards.
A condition that is not finished, such as if x > with the rest on the next line.

How to fix it

Add the colon at the end of the line that opens the block:

for name in ["ada", "grace"]:
    print(name)

Example: a function definition

main.py

def greet(name)
    print("Hello,", name)

Python 3.15 prints

  File "/home/me/project/main.py", line 1
    def greet(name)
                   ^
SyntaxError: expected ':'

Python	Prints
3.9	`SyntaxError: invalid syntax`
3.10–3.15	`SyntaxError: expected ':'`

Run on CPython 3.9.6, 3.10.22, 3.11.17, 3.12.15, 3.13.17, 3.14.9 and 3.15.1, on October 25, 2026.

How each Python version words it

Python	Prints
3.9	`SyntaxError: invalid syntax`
3.10–3.15	`SyntaxError: expected ':'`

Run on CPython 3.9.6, 3.10.22, 3.11.17, 3.12.15, 3.13.17, 3.14.9 and 3.15.1, on October 25, 2026.

3.9 reports "invalid syntax". 3.10 and later say "expected ':'".

Questions

Does `else` need a colon?

Yes, else: and try: too, even though nothing follows them on the line.

What about a dict?

A colon also separates keys from values in a dict. A missing one there gives its own message from 3.10 on: {"a": 1, "b" 2} reports "':' expected after dictionary key".

Sources

Compound statements, Python language reference
What's New in Python 3.10: SyntaxErrors, Python documentation

Read on October 25, 2026.