Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
The eleven colour words on this page have been indentified in various studies as the most common across most languages, although the actual colours represented by each of the colour words are not nescessarily exactly the same. For example, in Greek and Russian there are two words for blue corresponding to light blue and dark blue, and these colours are considered and perceived as separate. In other languages there are overlaps between blue, green and grey, or red, orange and brown.
The first six colours are most common, and the second seven are not quite as common across languages.
Key to abbreviations: drk = dark, lt = light, lv = living things, mm = man-made things, m = masculine, f = feminine, n = neuter, c = common gender, pl = plural
More colour words and notes on colours in individual languages:
Afrikaans,
Arabic,
Dutch,
Filipino,
French,
German,
Irish (Gaelic),
Italian,
Japanese,
Spanish,
Tuvaluan,
Vietnamese
Abenaki | mkazawi | wôbi | mkui | wizôwi | wlôwi | askaskui |
Aché | braʔa | iǰu | pirã | iǰu | prãna | prãna |
Achuar-Sh. | šuwín | puhu | kapántin | yaŋkú | wiŋkiá | samék |
Afrikaans | swart | blank wit |
rooi | geel | blou | groen |
Aguacatec | q̣eq | saq | kyaq | q̣an | č̣aʔs | č̣aʔs |
Aguaruna | bukúsea | čamig | kapantu | yagkú | wigka | samékbau |
Akan (Twi) | tumtum | fufuo | bere | ben | bluu | bun |
Alabama | locha | toobakaali | homma | laana | okchakko | okchakko |
Albanian | i zi e zezë |
i/e bardhë | i kuq e kuqe |
i/e verdhë | blu i/e kaltër bojë qielli |
i/e gjelbër i/e blertë jeshil/jeshile |
Amarakaeri | wasik | waˀereg | wabed | waey | wabura | |
Amharic | ጥቁር (ṭɛqur) |
ነጭ (nɛč̣č̣) |
ቀይ (qɛyy) |
ቢጫ (beč̣a) |
ሰማያዊ (ṭɛqur semayawi) |
አርንጓዴ (arɛngwade) |
Andi | beč̣edir | hac̣a | hiri | čakːu | xoči | ḳodoḷiboso |
Arabic | أسود (aswad) |
أبيض (abyadh) |
أحمر (ahhmar) |
أصفر (assfar) |
أزرق (azraq) |
أخضر (akh-dhar) |
Armenian | սէւ (sev) |
ճէրմակ (dzhermag) սպիտակ (sbidag) |
կարմիր (garmir) |
դեղին (teghin) |
կապույտ (gabouid) |
կանանչ (gananch) |
Aromanian | negru | albu | aroş | galbin | murnu | vearde |
Ashaninka | poʦitari | kitamarori | poʦonaitaki | kiteriri | kisari | kenaši |
Assamese | কলিযা (koliya) |
বগা (boga) |
লহিত্ (lohit) |
হালধিযা (halodhiya) |
নীলা (nila) |
সেুজিযা (xeujiya) |
Asturian | prietu | blancu | bermeyu | mariellu | azul | verde |
Atayal C. | makálux | malávuʔ | matanah | magasúluʔ | magaẓáguʔ | magaẓáguʔ |
Aukan | baaka | weti | lebi | donu | baaw | guun |
Aymara | čˀiyara | xanḳˀu | čupika | ḳˀilʸu | larama | čˀuχɲa |
Ayoreo | uta’ta-i | ‘pororo-i | kara-‘taai | ‘sarẽ | maaŋnataai | ‘sarẽ |
Azeri | qara | ağ | qɪrmɪzɪ | sarɪ | göy | yaşɪl |
Balinese | badeng | putih | barak | kuning | gadang | gadang |
Balti | nākpo | kārpo | mārpo | serpo | khnam-raŋ | sŋonpo |
Barí | Bɨɨh | bačii | bohḳaraa | karaka ašuŋdu | bireikara | |
Basque | beltz | zuri | gorri | hori beilegi |
urdin | berde |
Bashkir | ḳara | aḳ | ḳɪẕɪl | harɪ | kük | jəšəl |
Bassa | kpɛ̃̀ | púú | zĩ-zã | ɖaa-cànà | hwúe-dyèɖè | |
Batak Karo | mbiring | mbulan | megara | megersing | meratah | meratah |
Belarusan | чорны (čornɪ) |
белы (belɪ) |
чырвоны (čɪrvonɪ) |
жоўты (žoutɪ) |
сіні (sini) |
зялоны (zjalonɪ) |
Bemba | -fita | -bûta | -kashika | umutuntulwa | icafitulukila | katapakatapa |
Bengali | কালো (kālō) |
সাদা (sādā) |
লল (lal) |
হলুদ (haluda) পীত (pīta) |
নীল (nīl) |
সবুজ (sabuja) |
Bokar | याका (yaka) |
यापुङ् (yapuŋ) |
यालि॔नाग (yalínago) |
नगे (noge) |
दजे (doje) |
जाय (jayo) |
Breton | du | gwenn | ruz | melen | glas | gwer glas |
Budukh | laωa | luzu | al | sozá | c̣oru | jašil |
Bugis | malotoŋ | mapute | macəllaʔ | maridi | makudaraʔ | |
Bulgarian | черен (cheren) |
бял (bjal) |
червен (cherven) |
жълт (zhălt) |
син (sin) |
зелен (zelen) |
Burmese | နက်သော (ne’ðɔ̀) |
ြဖူေသာ (hpyuðɔ̀) |
နီေသာ (niðɔ̀) |
ဝါေသာ (waðɔ̀) |
ြပေသာ (pyaðɔ̀) |
စိမ်းေသာ (sèiŋðɔ̀) |
Burushaski | mʌtum | buruːm | baːrdʊm | ɪṣkərk | ɪṣqʌm | |
Cakchiquel | q̣eq | səq | kəq | q̣ən | rəš | rəš |
Caló | gallardó | plasnó | lolo | batacolé | julé | bardorí |
Catalan | negre | blanc | vermell roig |
groc | blau | verd |
Catawba | hawókči | táːkče | səka | wuyantkare | wu | wayani |
Cavineña | sewe-da | paha-da | pode-da | hawa-da | sawa-da | sawa-da |
Cayuvava | ɲataha | paboreha | tɨrɨrɨ | darutæ | yaβodahæ | iβere |
Chácobo | čɨkɨ | hoṣ̌o | piši | šini | niaβa | niaβa |
Chamorro | áttilong | á’paka | agaga’ | amariyu | asút | betde |
Chechen | ‘ärža | ḳajn | ċen | moža | sijna | bäccara |
Cherokee | ᎬᎿᎨ (gvhnage) |
ᎤᏁᎦ (unega) |
ᎩᎦᎨ (gigage) |
ᏓᎶᏂᎨ (dalonige) |
ᏌᎪᏂᎨ (sagonige) |
ᎢᏥᎢᏳᏍᏗ (itsiiyusdi) |
Chinese (Cantonese) | 黑(色) (hāk [sīk]) |
白(色) (baahk [sīk]) |
紅(色) (hùhng [sīk]) |
黄(色) (wòhng [sīk]) |
藍(色) (làahm [sīk]) |
綠(色) (luhk [sīk]) |
Chinese (Mandarin) | 黑色 (hēisè) |
白色 (báisè) |
紅色 [红] (hóngsè) |
黄色 (huángsè) |
藍色 [蓝] (lánsè) 青 (qīng) |
綠色 [绿] (lǜ sè) 青 (qīng) |
Chinook | klale | t’kope | pil | kwakawak | spooh | pechugh |
Chipaya | c̄oḳ | čiwi | lxok | kˀilʸu | larama | čˀoxɲa |
Chiriguano | -hũu | tĩi | pɨ̃ta | iǰu | howɨ | howɨ |
Choctaw | lusa | tohbi | homma | lakna | okchamali | okchakko |
Chontal | ik | tsek | čuk | ken | yuš | yuš |
Chuj | ḳiḳ | sak | čak | ḳan | yaš | yaš |
Chuvash | xura | šură | xĕrlĕ | sară | kăvak | simĕs |
Cofan | sįˀą | totoa | kïˀa | kiyopa | indzią | indzią |
Colorado | pa-ˀba-‘kã | ɸi-ʰ’ˀbã | ‘lu-ˀbã | laʰ’ke-ˀbã | loʰsĩ-ˀba | loʰsĩ-ˀba |
Cora Nayar | súˀumuaraˀa | kuaina | tɯpaˀu | taúmua | kuatúmua | ħamuámua |
Cornish | du | gwyn | ruth | melen | glas | gwer |
Corsican | neru | biancu | rossu | giallu | turchini | verdi |
Creole | noi | blanc | rouge | jòne | blé | vett |
Croatian | crna | bijela | crvena | žuta | plava | zelena |
Czech | černá | bílá | červená rudá |
žlutá | modrá | zelená |
Danish | sort | hvid | rød | gul | blå | grøn |
Dutch | zwart | wit | rood | geel | blauw | groen |
Dzoratâi | nâi | blyan | rodze | zauno | blyû | vè |
Emberá | paima | tořo | puřu | kuara | pãõãrã | pãõãrã |
English | black | white | red | yellow | blue | green |
Epena | pʰãimaa | tʰořoo | pʰoree | kʰuaraa | pʰãwaraa | pʰãwaraa |
Erza Mordvin | r̃aužo | ašo | yaksʸtʸer̃ʸe | ožo | senʸ | piže |
Esperanto | nigra | blanca | ruĝa | flava | blua | verda |
Estonian | must | valge | punane | kollane | sinine | roheline |
Evenki | karā | ñuberī | hulama | siŋarīn | noɣōn | noɣōn |
Faroese | svartur | hvitur | reyður | gulur | bláur | grønur |
Filipino | itim | puti | púla | dilaw | asul bughaw |
berde lunti luntian |
Finnish | musta | valkoinen | punainen | keltainen | sininen | vihreä |
French | noir | blanc | rouge | jaune | bleu | vert |
Frisian (West) | swart | wyt | read | giel | blau | grien |
Galician | negro | branco | vermella | amarela | azul | verde |
Georgian | შავი (shavi) |
თეთრი (thethri) |
წითელი (c’itheli) |
ყვითელი (qvitheli) |
ლურჯი (lurji) drk ცისფერი (cispheri) lt |
მწვანე (mc’vane) |
German | schwarz | weiß | rot | gelb | blau | grün |
Ghulfan | úri | oɽí | kɛ́le | baɼɽá | úri | te |
Gilaki | siya | səfid | sorx | zərd | arši | sebz |
Goajiro | mɨtsia | kasu-to-ľu | išosɨ | maľoukati-si- | wɨitɨ-si | wɨitɨ-si |
Greek | μαύρο (mavro) |
άσπρο (aspro) |
κόκκινο (kokkino) |
κίτρινο (kitrino) |
μπλε (ble) lt γαλάζιο (galazio) drk |
πράσινο (prasino) |
Gupapuyngu | gurrngan | gaywarangu | - | miku'mirri | milkuminymirri | |
Guarani | hũ | morotĩ | pytã | sa'yju | hovy | morongy |
Gujarati | કાળો (kaaro) |
સફેદ (safed) |
લાલ (laal) |
પીળો (peero) |
ભૂરો - drk (bhuro) વાદળી - lt (vaadaree) |
લીલો (leelo) |
Hausa | bak̑ī | farī | jā | rawaya | shuɗī | algashi |
Hawaiian | ‘ele’ele | ke’oke’o | ‘ula’ula wena |
melemele | uliuli | ‘ooma’oma’o |
Hebrew | שחור (shakhor) |
לבן (lavan) |
אדום (adom) |
צהוב (tsahov) |
כחול drk (kakhol) תכול / תכלת lt (takhol / tekhelet) |
ירוק (yarok) |
Hindi | काला (Kālā) |
सफेद (Saphed) |
लाल (Lāl) |
पीला (Pīlā) |
नीला (Nīlā) |
हरा (Harā) |
Hmong | dub | dawb | liab | daj | xiav | ntsuab |
Ho | henḍe | punḍi | ( ?) | sasaŋleká | gádeḍ | tasadleká |
Huastec | eḥeknʔi | ṭakniʔ | tsakniʔ | manuʔ | yašušuul | yašušuul |
Hungarian | fekete | fehér | piros vörös |
sárga | kék | zöld |
Icelandic | svartur | hvítur | rauður | gulur | blár | grænn |
Ido | nigra | blanka | reda | flava | blua | verda |
Igbo | ojii | ocha | -cha ufie ūfie | èdò | blu | akwụkwọ nri |
Indonesian | hitam | putih | merah | kuning | biru | hijau |
Ingush | ‘ärža | ḳaj | c̣e | ‘ažaʁa | sijna | baccarat |
Interlingua | nigre | albe | rubie | jalne | blau | verde |
Irish (Gaelic) | dubh | bán | dearg | buí | gorm | glas (lv) uaine (mm) |
Italian | nero | bianco | rosso | giallo | azzurro (lt) blu |
verde |
Itonama | kawolo | rapɨhna | i-dahke | o-were | wanili | kabalaʔi |
Itza’ | boš | sək | čək | ḳən | yaʔaš | ḳiḳ |
Ixil | q̣eq | saq | kaq | q̣an | čaʔs | čaʔs |
Japanese | 黒 (kuro) |
白 (shiro) |
赤 (aka) |
黄 (ki) |
ブリュー (buryū) 青 (ao) |
緑 (midori) |
Kaingang | sə | kupri | kɔsɔŋ | mãrɛru | təŋ | təŋ |
Kannada | ಕಪ್ಪು (kappu) |
ಬಿಳಿ (biḷi) |
ಕೆಂಪು (kempu) |
ಹಳದಿ (haḷadi) |
ನೀಲಿ (nīli) |
ಹಸಿರು (hasiru) |
Kapampangan | matuling | maputi | malutu | culul ebun | asul (blue) asul marino (dark blue) |
berdi |
Karajá | iIəbɨ | ura | isɔ | ( ) | ľɨre | ľɨre |
Karakalpak | қара (ḳara) |
қуу (kuu) |
қырмызы (kɪrmɪzɪ) |
сары (sarɪ) |
көк (kök) |
жасыл (žasɪl) |
Karelian | мусту (mustu) |
валгей (valgej) |
рускей (ruskej) |
келдайнə (keldajnə) |
синнинэ (sinninĕ) |
виханду (vixandu) |
Karipuna | nég | blã | huj | jón | ble | viat |
Kashubian | czôrny | biôli | czerwòny | zôlti | mòdri | zelony |
Katcha | u’du’du | aʔbasa | otɛ | agerikiri | u’du’du | ageri |
Kekchi | q̣eq | saq | kaq | ḳan | raš | raš |
Kharia | karhaini | oselḍaˀ | gola, joŋgor | lila, piyar | lil, nila | hariyar |
Khmer | ព្រញូញ ខ្មៅ (prɔɲuːɲ. kʰmaw) |
ស (sɒː) |
រត្ត (rɔɒttaˀ) |
ស្កូយ, ហវី (skuəy, hariˀ) |
ខៀវ (kʰiəw) |
ស្រង឵ត (srɒŋat) |
Kiribati | roroo | mainaina | uraura | babooboo | mawaawa | kiriin |
Komi | sʸöd | edžɩd | gör̃d | kolʸkviž | löz | vež |
Konkani | काळे (kāle) |
धवे (dhave) |
तंन्डे (tãḍe) |
हळ्दुवे (haḷduve) |
नीळ (nīla) |
पाच्वे (pāčve) |
Korean | 검정 | 하양 | 빨강 | 노랑 | 파랑 | 녹색 |
Koromfe | bĩn- | pɔ̃n- | sɔm- | kɔ̃ɔ̃d- | kɛ̃ɛ̃ | kɛ̃ɛ̃ |
Kpelle | tɛi | kole | kpɔlu | kpeleŋ | mu-tɛi-ɛɛ | laa-ŋunu |
Kumyk | къара (ḳara) |
акъ (aḳ) |
къызыл (ḳɪzɪl) |
сары (sarɪ) |
кёк (kök) |
жасыл (žasɪl) |
Kunza | atchi | tarar | lari | ckaala | selti | ckaari |
Kurdish | yê reş | yê sipî | yê sor | yê zer | yê şîn | yê kesk |
Kuwi | କଅଋିନି (kāṛini) |
ପଅଣ୍ଡ୍ରି, ଓେଲ୍ଲ (pāṇḍri, vella) |
ଲୋନ୍ଗ (longi) |
ହିଇଗିରି (hīṅgiri) |
ନିଲ୍ଯ (nilya) |
ଅଅକୁପଚ୍ଚ (ākupacca) |
Ladino | פריטו (preto) |
בלאנקו (blanko) |
בירמיג׳ו (bermežo) |
אמארײאו (amariyo) |
אזול (azul) |
ב׳ידרי (veđre) |
Lakota | sápa | ská | šá | zí | tɦó tɦósaŋ (lt) tɦósapa (dk) |
tɦózi tɦó (dk) |
Lamut | xakarīn | njōbatə̄ | xulanjā | xel | čulbanjā | čulbanjā |
Lao | ດຳ (dàːm) |
ກາວ (kǒw) |
ສີແໆງ (sǐ dàaŋ) |
ສີເຫລືອງ (sǐ leuàn) |
ສີຟ້າ (sǐ fâ) |
ສີຂຽວ (sǐ kiǎw) |
Latvian | melns | balts | sarkans | dzeltens | zils | zaļš |
Lengua | pais-iam | -mopa-iya | -yithwas-e | -yatiktama | -yapakmate | -yapakmate |
Limbu | ᤁᤢᤔᤰᤗ (kumakla) |
ᤁᤢᤓᤨᤖ (kubhɔra) |
ᤁᤢᤜᤧᤳᤗ (kuhetla) |
ᤀᤨᤶᤍᤱᤒ (omdaŋba) |
ᤛᤜᤡᤀᤸ (sahiʔl) |
ᤁᤢᤜᤡᤰᤗ (kuhikla) |
Lithuanian | juoda | balta | raudona | geltona | mėlyna | žalia |
Lojban | xekri | blabi | xunre | pelxu | blanu | crino |
Luangiua | uliʔuli | maʔiŋi | mea | helo | pala | kea |
Luba | fitùtùu | -tòòke | -kunze | kàlaabi | -a cyuluulu | lubìšibiši |
Luxembourgish | schwaarz | wäiss | rout | giel | blo | gréng |
Macedonian | црн (m) црна (f) црно (n) црни (pl) |
бел (m) бела (f) бело (n) бели (pl) |
црвен (m) црвена (f) црвено (n) црвени (pl) |
жолт (m) жолта (f) жолто (n) жолти (pl) |
син (m) сина (f) сино (n) синиv (pl) |
зелен (m) зелена (f) зелено (n) зелени (pl) |
Machiguenga | potsiari | kútari | kiraári | kiteri | kamachonkari | |
Macushi | arikkɨtun | aimutun | suuyu | aʔmutun | rora | rora |
Maia | gigir | usua | kedat | aligam | maribuka | koborum |
Malagasy | mainty | fotsy | mena | vonivony | manga | maitso |
Malay | hitam | putih | merah | kuning | biru | hijau |
Malayalam | കറപ്പു (karappu) |
വെളുപ്പു (veluppu) |
ചെമപ്പു (cemappu) |
മഞ (manya) |
നീല (nīla) |
പച്ച (pacca) |
Maldivian | ކަލު (kalu) |
ހުޑު (hudu) |
ރަތް (rai) |
ނޫ (nú) |
ނޫ (nú) |
|
Maltese | iswed sewda swed |
abjad bajda bojod |
ahmar hamra homor |
isfar safra sofor |
blu ikhal kahla kohol |
aħdar ħadra ħodor |
Malto | मड़्ग्रो (maṛgro) |
बोग्लि (bogli) |
क़ैसो (qēso) |
बाल्को (bālko) |
क़ेन्मिना (qenminā) |
|
Mam | q’eq’ | sak | kyaq | sak q’ent | xew | cha’x |
Mamanwa | maʔitɨm | mapotik | mararag | madolaw | grin | |
Manado | svartine | hvetine | kirmine | sardine | azurine | yerkine |
Manchu | sahaliyan | šaŋǧan | fulǧan | hūwaŋ | kūke | ñovanɣan |
Mandinka | fiŋ | koy | wuleeta | netemunku | buluu | jambakere |
Mansi | semil | woykan | kelp | wosʸr̃am | etar̃xar̃ʸi | nʸar̃pumospa |
Manx | doo | bane gial |
jiarg ruy |
buigh bwee |
gorrym | glass eayney geayney |
Maori | maŋu | ma | whero | puŋapuŋa | puru | kakariki |
Mapudungun | korɨ | liɣ | kelɨ | čoθ | kalʸfɨ | karɨ |
Mari | šem | oš | joškár | nə́rɪnče | kánde, örzá | sə́wɪn, užár |
Maxakalí | mũnĩy | xutta | ãta | yĩxux | yĩxux | |
Mehri | ḥōwer | ewbōn | ʔōfer | kerkēm | heźáwr | heźáwr |
Mende | tle | aku aku | nalo | aflornivi | apmarjere | sembe |
Micmac | maqtewék | wapék | mekwék | wisawék | ewnék | stoqonamúk |
Mishmi | म (má) |
ल्यो (lyô) |
शि, ज़प् (šî, záp) |
मिङ् (miŋ) |
प्रु (prú) |
तङ (táŋá) |
Miskito | siksa | pihnka | pauni | lalahni | sangni | kurra |
Mocoví | n-aweʔ | y-alagaḳ | tok | ḳoɲi | l-kolaḳ | r-adala |
Mohawk | kahòntsi | kenraken | onekwenhtara | otsinekwar | orònya | ohonte |
Mokilese | soal | korohro | wahssa | roangroang | puluh | krihn |
Mongolian | хар (xar) |
цагаан (cagaan) |
улаан (ulaan) |
шар (šar) |
хөх (xöx) |
ногоон (nogoon) |
Morisyen | nwar | blan | ruz | zonn | ble | ver |
Mundurukú | i-ok | i-rɨt | i-pak-pɨk | i-pekpɨk | i-rem-rɨm | -rem-rɨm |
Nafusi | zeṭṭåf | mellel | zuggaġ | illéṣfår | werraġ | werraġ |
Nahuatl | tliltic | iztac | chichiltic | coztic | texotic | xoxoctic |
Navajo | tsídii | ɬigai | ɬich ííʔ | ɬítso | dootɬʔizh | dootɬʔiazh |
Nganasan | heŋkə | si̮rajkuo | d’abakuo | tod’akuo | ŋind a˝si̮e | ŋind a˝si̮e |
Ninam | uši | šîe | ĩe | walapasipi | palahi | palahi |
Nivaclé | yakut | klim | yuk | koxi yax | yaka | nipeway-ši |
Nivkh | vulvələǵ | ḳonuǵ | paḥla | ĕvrḳvala | təl | ńlajsvalaǵ |
Nogai | кара (kara) |
ак (ak) |
кызыл (kɪzɪl) |
сары (sarɪ) |
коьк (kөk) |
коьк (kөk) |
Nomatsig’ga | tsitari | kátari | kiraári | kateríri | kisaári | kaniari |
Nootka | topk- | λˀic̄- | λˀiḥ- | ḥic̄-pˀiq- | kinˀic̄- | kistaq- |
Norwegian | svart | hvit | rød | gul | blå | grønn |
Novial | nigri | blanki | redi | gelbi | Asuri | verdi |
Nyankore | rukwiragura | -rukwera | -rukutukura | -engere | obwato | kinyansi |
Ocaina | hɯ’tóːfɯ | furąña | tsíːo | bóːra | moxóːso | hiáː’o |
Occitan | negre negra |
blanc/a | roge roja |
jaune | blau blava blu |
verd/a |
O'odham | s-cuk | s-toha s-tohă |
s-wegi s-wegĭ |
s-oam | s-añi:lmagi s-ce:dagi |
s-ce:dagi s-cu:dagĭ |
Oneida | -aˀswʌˀt- | -wiskliyo- | onikwʌ́htalaˀ | otsínkwal | olú·yaˀ | awʌ·lá |
Orejón | nea | bo- | ma | sʋñohaihʋ̨ | bodi hą | bodi hą |
Ossetic | sau | urs | sɪrx | bur | ærwxwɪz | c̣æx |
Páez | khũč | čihme | beh | lem | c̄ẽy | c̄ẽy |
Palauan | bechachás | becheleléu | bekerkárd | bibrúrek | mellemáu | begendelabib |
Panare | tɨ-puku-re | tamuʔɲe | t-ukin-ke | t-ukin-ke | t-akuˀya-ke | t-akuˀya-ke |
Papiamentu | pretu | blanku | kòrá | geel, hel | blau | berdè |
Pashto | تور (tor) |
سپينرنگہ (spinranga) |
سور (sur) |
ژېړ (žer̥) |
شين (šin) |
شين (šin) |
Paumarí | bara- | bokho- | dana- | notxoro- | koriki | ajamo- |
Pazeh | dərəxə́n | isiláu | lubaːhiŋ | tabaːrák | turulich | maŋa ːyáh |
Persian (Farsi) |
سياه (siyāh) |
سفيد (sefīd) |
قرمز (ɣermez) |
زرد (zard) |
آبى (ābi) |
سبز (sabz) |
Pilagá | l-eed-aʁaik | y-apagaḳ | toomaʁadaik | yo-ḳowi | malaʁad-aik | d-adala |
Pitta Pitta | tympa | warrhaputha | kurrhi~ | parrhu~ | tympa | kalyirrhka |
Polci | dzuŋi | faali | lagham | maa mbetlim | shuuɗi | koore |
Polish | czarny | biały | czerwony | żółty | niebieski | zielony |
Ponapean | toantoal | pwetepwet | weitahta | oaŋoahŋ | mei | pohndihpw |
Portuguese | preto negro |
branco | vermelho encarnado rubro |
amarelo jalde jalne |
azul | verde |
Potawatomi | muktĕ | wapškyak | mĕskwak | wisawa | wičapkwak | eškbak |
Puinave | -pik | -bək | -kət | -hut | -ãk | -ãk |
Pulaar | ɓaleejo | daneejo | boɗeejo | oolo | bulo | haako- |
Punjabi | ਕਾਲ਼ਾ (kaḷā) |
ਸਫ਼ੈਦ (safaid) |
ਲਾਲ (lāl) |
ਪੀਲ਼ਾ (pīḷā) |
ਨੀਲਾ (nīlā) |
ਹਰਾ (harā) |
Qawesqar | semen | aḳyefḳyar | ḳyeyero | tˀel | arḳʰa | arḳʰa |
Quechua | yana | yuraq | puka | q’ellu | anqas | qomer |
Quiché | q̣eq | səq | kaq | q̣ən | rəš | rəš |
Rapanui | kerekere | teatea | úraúra | para | moana | uri |
Roma(ni) | kalo | parno | lolo | čuto | modro | seleno |
Romanian | negru | alb | rosu | galben | albastru | verde |
Romansh | nair | alv | cotschen | mellen | blau | verd |
Rotokas | katokato | kaakaavo | turuevira | kese | kuuva | kokovara |
Roviana | muho | keoro | ziŋara | meava | balairi | buma |
Russian | чёрный (černiuj) |
белый (beliuj) |
красный (krasniuj) рыжий (riužij) |
жёлтый (želtiuj) |
синий (sinij) drk голубой (goluboj) lt |
зеленый (zeleniuj) |
Saanich | nəqʾix̣ | pəʾ | nəkʷim | lələč | qʷəyʾəlʾ | nəqʷey |
Salar | ɣara | ax | ɣyzil | sary | ɣux | jäšil |
Sardinian | niedhu | biancu | arrubiu | grogu | asulu | birdi |
Scottish Gaelic |
dubh | geal | dearg ruadh |
buidhe | gorm | uaine |
Secoya | neakɔ | pohaˀikɔ | ma jaˀikɔ | sɨ̨ˀñohaˀikɔ | ñąhǫkɨˀyo | ñąhǫkɨˀyo |
Sei | kōpoɬ | kōχp | čēɬ | emasoɬ | koiɬ | koiɬ |
Selkup | šʸæḳɨ | sər̃ɨ | nʸar̃ḳɨ | patɨlʸ | nor̃ælʸ | patɨlʸ |
Sepedi | so | tšhweu | hwibidu | sehla | tala | |
Serbian | црна (crna) |
бела (bela) |
црвена (crvena) |
жута (žuta) |
плава (plava) |
зелена (zelena) |
Shimaore | ndzilu | ndjeu | nzukundru | dzindzano | bile | veri |
Shipibo | čеʂ̌е | hoʂ̌o | hošín | panšín | yankón | šepa |
Shompen | kaʔing | kagijāu | kāteob | kaʔugão | komeniaŋ | kãʔoõi |
Shoshoni | Duhu- | Dosa- | ai̱ŋabite | čapite | ai̱behibite | buhibite |
Sicilian | níuru | biancu | russu | giarnu | bru | virdi |
Sinhala | නිල්පත (nilpata) |
සචදු (sudū) |
රතු (ratu) |
කහ (kaha) |
නිල් (nil) |
කොලපාට (kolapaṭ) |
Slovak | čierna | biela | červená | žltá | modrá | zelená |
Slovenian | črna | bela | rdeča | rumena | modra | zelena |
Somali | 𐒑𐒖𐒆𐒙𐒓 (madow) |
𐒋𐒖𐒆 (cad) |
𐒋𐒖𐒈 (cas) |
𐒋𐒖𐒓𐒐𐒖𐒒 (cawlan) |
𐒁𐒚𐒐𐒚𐒓𐒌 (buluug) |
𐒋𐒖𐒌𐒛𐒇 (cagaar) |
Sorbian | čorny | běƚy | čerwjeny | žoƚty | módry | zeleny |
Spanish | negro | blanco | rojo colorado |
amarillo | azul | verde |
Sranan | blaka | weit | redi | geri | blaw | grun |
Sudovian | kirsnas | gailas | varmias | geltainas | gālimbias | zal’jas |
Suena | anai | gomu | disa | nozawai | uwiwai | buge |
Sulung | हिअेङकेलेङ् (hieŋkeleŋ) |
आर-युङ् (ar-yuŋ) |
आअि॔के॔रेअि (aíkérei) |
आसलुवा (asoluwa) |
आपि (api) |
आञाङ् (añaŋ) |
Swedish | svart (c) svart (n) svarta (pl) |
vit (c) vitt (n) vita (pl) |
röd (c) rött (n) röda (pl) |
gul (c) gult (n) gula (pl) |
blå (c) blått (n) blåa (pl) |
grön (c) grönt (n) gröna (pl) |
Tajik | sioħ | safed | surx | zard | kabud | sabz |
Talysh | sijo | sipi | gɪzɪl | zerd | kavü | havz |
Tamil | கருப்பு (karuppu) |
வெள்ளை (veḷḷai) |
சிவப்பு (sivappu) |
மஞ்சள் (manjaḷ) |
நீலம் (nīlam) |
பச்சை (pakkai |
Tarahumara | chócami | rosácami | lánami | sitácami | siyonamí | siyónami |
Tatar | кара (kara) |
ак (ak) |
кызыл (kɪzɪl) |
сары (sarɪ) |
күк (kük) |
яшел (jašel) |
Tausug | ʔitum | putiʔ | pulah | bianiŋ | gadduŋ | gadduŋ |
Tehuelche | ‘pˀol- | ‘or- | ‘ḳˀāpˀ- | ‘wāytˀ- | ‘ḳaltˀ- | ‘xeštˀltˀe- |
Telugu | నలుపు (nalupu) |
తెలుపు (telupu) |
ఎరుపు (erupu) |
పసుపు (pasupu) |
నీలము (niilamu) |
పచ్చ (patstsa) |
Tetum | metan | mutin | mean | kinur | azúl | modok |
Thai | สีดำ (see-dum) |
สีขาว (see-kharw) |
สีแดง (see-daeng) |
สีเหลือง (see-lhoerng) |
สีฟ้า (see-far) สีน้ำเงิน (see-num-ngern) |
สีเขียว (see-khiaw) |
Tibetan | ནག་པོ་ (nagpo) |
དཀར་པོ (karpo) |
དམར་པོ (marpo) |
སེར་པོ (sarpo) |
སྔོན་པོ (ngonpo) |
ལྗང་ཁུ (liangkhu) |
Tigrinya | ጸሊም (ṣɛlim) |
ጻዕዳ (ṣɛʕuda) |
ቀይሕ (qɛjḥ) |
ቢጫ (bič̣a) |
ሰማያዊ (sɛmajawi) |
ሓምላይ (ḥamlaj) |
Tlingit | tˀoočˀ | dleit | léixˀʷ | tlˀáatlˀ | x̣éišxˀʷ | sˀoow |
Tok Pisin | blakpela | waitpela | retpela | yelopela | blupela | grinpela |
Tongan | ‘uli’uli | hinehina | kulokula | engeenga | lanu-moana | lanu-mata |
Trinitario | -siso | -hopu | -lc̄ʸoro | -yokko | -ripu | -heʔču |
Trumai | dat̯ | tsi-tore | tsi-omat | tsi-aiixu | tsi-auu | ure ure ue.. |
Tsimshian | gaax | moks | masgmʔiɬee | ( ?) | gwisgwaask | maɬiitk |
Tuki | hiítiti | puúm | orí ówó dekétíi | conáŋ | burúm | ecénécéné |
Turkish | siyah | beyaz | kırmızı | sarı | mavi | yeşil |
Tuvaluan | uli | kèna | kùla | sèga | pulú | lanu launiu kulini |
Tuyuca | yî’̃ | bu’ti | sõ’ã | sõ’ã | sɨ̃’bẽ | sɨ̃’bẽ |
Ukrainian | чорний (čornij) |
бiлий (bìlij) |
червоний (červonij) |
жовтий (žovtij) |
синiй (sinìj) |
зелений (zelenij) |
Urdu | كالا (kālā) |
سفيد (safed) |
سورخ (surx) |
زرد (zard) |
نيلا (nīlā) |
سبز (sabz) |
Uzbek | қора (qora) |
оқ (oq) |
қизил (qizil) |
сариқ (sariq) |
кўк (kŭk) |
яшил (jašil) |
Veps | must | vauged | rusked | pakuine | sini | vihand |
Vietnamese | đen | trắng | đỏ | vàng | xanh | |
Volapük | blägik | vietik | ledik | yelibik | yulibik | glünik |
Wai Wai | či-čwi-ye | tu-mut-we | ču-ču-re | tɨ-šewe-ke | ti-swa-y | tu-škukuyure |
Waorani | b̶ɩ̨ntamų | nąmæ̨nta | opatawæ̨ | itækad’æ̨ | mįntad’æ̨ | mįntad’æ̨ |
Wapishana | pʰudidi-ʔu | ʾbarakʰa-ʔu | wɨẓa-ʔu | kʰidau-ʔu | kʰuʔuri-ʔu | kʰuʔuri-ʔu |
Wayampi | piyũ | sĩ | pilã | tawa | sɔ̃wĩ | |
Welsh | du | gwyn | coch | melyn | glas | gwyrdd glas |
Witoto Mur. | hitɨre | userede | edoroide | borare | hiduirede | mokorede |
Wolof | n̂uul | weex | xonxa | mbog | werta | |
Xhosa | mnyama | mhlophe | bomvu | lebhelu mthubi |
luhlaza | luhlaza |
Yakut | xara | ürüŋ | kɪhɪl | araɣas | küöx | küöx |
Yapese | kool | weachweach | roow | maegchoel | yarraq | giriin |
Yaruro | burɛ-burɛ-a | bɛrɛ-bɛrɛ-a | koɛ-koɛ-a | koɛ-koɛ-a | tɔ-tɔ-a | čʰã-čʰã |
Yiddish | שוואַרץ (shvarts) |
ווײַס (vays) |
רויט (royt) |
געל (gel) |
בלאָ (blo) |
גרין (grin) |
Yoruba | dudú | funfun | pón | pupa | òfáfeàwò | aláwö |
Yucatec Maya | 'ik | saak | chak | k'an | yax | |
Yuwana | waleiʰte | kʸabo | tuwẽlõ | tuwẽlõ | lũʰtibo | lũʰtibo |
Zapotec Yatz. | gasʁ | šyiš | ʐ̌ṉa | gašə | asul | gaˀ |
Zulu | -mnyama | -mhlope | -ɓomvu | -liphuzi | -luhlaza | -luhlaza |
Zuñi | kˀʷi | kˀoha- | šilowa- | ɬupc̄ˀi- | ɬiʔʔa | ʔašena |
Many of the colours in this section were contributed by Victor Palermo. You can also download a PDF of those colours (1.5MB).
More colour words and notes on colours in individual languages:
Afrikaans,
Arabic,
Dutch,
Filipino,
French,
German,
Irish (Gaelic),
Italian,
Japanese,
Spanish,
Tuvaluan,
Vietnamese
Afrikaans | bruin donker |
pienk ligrooi |
oranje | grys vergrys |
purper |
Albanian | kafe | rozë | portokalle [f] portokall [m] |
i/e hirtë gri ngjyrë hiri |
vjollcë |
Arabic | بنّي (onniy) |
وردي - زهريّ (wardiy / zahriy) |
برتقالي (burtuqaaliy) |
رمادي (ramaadiy) |
بنفسجيّ (banafsajiy) |
Armenian | սրճաքուին (srjakouin) |
վարդի (vardi) |
նարանճաքուին (naranjakouin) |
գորշ (gorsh) |
մոքրաքուին (mokrakouin) |
Asturian | marrón | rosa | naranxa | buxu | purple |
Basque | marroi | arrosa | laranja | grisa | ubel more gorrindol purpura |
Bengali | বাদামি (badami) কপিল (kapila) |
খোলাপি (golapi) পাটল (pāṭala) |
কমলা (komala) |
ধূসর (dhūshor) ছাই-রঙ (chai-rong) |
বেগুন (beguni) রক্তবর্ণ (raktabarn) অরুণ (aruṇa) |
Breton | ruzdu duard |
ruz | orañjez melenruz |
gris glas |
glasruz mouk |
Bulgarian | кафяв (kafjav) |
розов (rozov) |
оранжев (oranzhev) |
сив (siv) |
лилав (lilav) виолетов (violetov) |
Catalan | marró bru |
rosa | taronja | gris | porpra púrpura violat morat |
Cherokee | ᎤᏬᏗᎨ (uwodige) |
ᎦᎦᎨ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ (gagage usgolv) |
ᎠᏓᎶᏂᎨ (adalonige) |
ᎬᎿᎨ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ (gvhnage usgolv) |
ᎠᏛᎭᎵᎨ (advhalige) |
Chinese (Cantonese) | 咖啡色 (gafēsīk) |
粉紅色 (fánhùhng sīk) |
橙色 (cháangsīk) |
灰色 (fūisīk) |
紫色 (jísīk) |
Chinese (Mandarin) | 棕色 (zōngsè) 褐色 (hèsè) 咖啡色 (kāfēisè) |
粉紅色 (fěnhóngsè) 粉色 (fěnsè) |
橙色 (chéngsè) 橘红色 (júhóngsè) |
灰色 (huīsè) |
紫色 (zǐsè) |
Croatian | smeđa | ružičasta | narančasta | siva | ljubičasta |
Czech | hnědá | růžová | oranžová | šedá šedivá |
fialová |
Danish | brun | lyserød | orange | grå | lilla |
Dutch | bruin | roze | oranje | grijs | paars |
English | brown | pink | orange | grey | purple |
Esperanto | bruna | roz(kolor)a | oranĝ(kolor)a | griza | viol(kolor)a |
Estonian | pruun | roosa | oranž | hall | lilla |
Filipino | tsokolate kayumanggi |
rosas | dalandan | abó ábuhin |
lilà ube |
Finnish | ruskea | pinkki | oranssi | harmaa | purppura |
French | marron brun |
rose | orange | gris | violet |
Frisian (West) | brún | anjer | oranje | skier / griis | pears |
Galician | marrón | rosa | laranja | grises | púrpura |
Georgian | ყავისფერი (qavispheri) |
ვარდისფერი (vardispheri) |
ნარინჯისფერი (narinjispheri) ფორთოხლისფერი (phorthokhlispheri) |
ნაცრისფერი (nacrispheri) რუხი (rukhi) |
იისფერი (iispheri) იასამნისფერი (iasamnispheri) |
German | braun | rosa | orange | grau | lila violett |
Greek | καφέ (kafé) |
ροζ (roz) |
πορτοκαλί (portokalí) |
γκρι (gri) |
μοβ (mov) |
Gupapuyngu | gurrngan | miku'mirri | - | - | - |
Guarani | hũngy | pytãngy | - | atĩva | pytaũ |
Gujarati | બદામી (badaamee) |
ગુલાબી (gulaabee) |
નારંગી (naarangee) |
ભૂખરો (bhukharo) |
જાંબલી (jaambalee) |
Hawaiian | palaunu | ‘aakala | ‘aalani | ‘aahinahina | poni |
Hebrew | חום (khoom) |
ורוד (varod) |
כתום (katom) |
אפור (afor) |
סגול (sagol) |
Hindi | भूरा (Bhūrā) |
गुलाबी (Gulābī) |
नारंगी (Nārangī) |
धूसर (Dhūsara) |
बैंगनी (Bainganī) |
Hungarian | barna | rózsaszín | narancssárga narancs |
szürke | lila |
Icelandic | brúna | bleikur | appelsínugulur | grár | fjólublár |
Indonesian | coklat | merah muda | oranye | abu abu | ungu |
Irish (Gaelic) | donn | bándearg | oráiste flannbhuí |
liath glas |
corcra |
Italian | marrone | rosa | arancione | grigio | viola |
Japanese | 茶色 (chairo) |
桃色 (momoiro) |
オレンジ (orenji) 橙色 (daidaiiro) |
灰色 (haiiro) 鼡色 (dk) (nezumiiro) |
紫 (murasaki) |
Kapampangan | culul chuclati | rosas | culul salmon | culul abu | culul ubi |
Korean | 갈색 | 분홍색 | 오렌지색의 | 회색 | 보라색 |
Lakota | ǧí | šásaŋ | zíša | ɦóta sáŋ (lt) |
tɦóša |
Latvian | brūns | rozā | oranžs | pelēks | purpursarkana |
Lithuanian | ruda | rožinė | oranžinė | pilka | violetinė |
Lojban | bunre | narju | grusi | zirpu | |
Macedonian | кафеав (m) кафеава (f) кафеаво (n) кафеави (pl) |
розев (m) розева (f) розево (n) розеви (pl) |
портокалов (m) портокалова (f) портокалово (n) портокалови (pl) |
сив (m) сива (f) сиво () сиви (pl) |
виолетов (m) виолетова (f) виолетово (n) виолетови (pl) |
Malay | warna perang warna coklat |
merah jambu | warna oren jingga |
kelabu | ungu |
Maltese | kannella | roża | orinġ | griż | vjola |
Manx | dhoan | bane-yiarg blaa ruishagh |
jiarg-bwee oranje |
lheeah | gorrym jiarg |
Norwegian | brun | rosa | oransje | grå | lilla |
Occitan | brun/a | ròse ròsa |
irange | gris | violet/a |
O'odham | s-kubjuwi | s-wegĭ | s-nalasmagĭ | s-ko:magi | s-u:dwismagi |
Polish | brązowy | różowy | pomarańczowy | szary | purpurowy |
Portuguese | castanho (br) marrom (pt) |
rosa | cor-de-laranja (pt) cor-de-abóbora (pt) laranja (br) |
cinzento cinza pardo gris |
violeta roxo púrpura |
Romanian | maro | roz | portocaliu | gri | violet |
Russian | коричневый (кoričneviuj) |
розовый (rozoviuj) |
оранжевый (oranževiuj) |
серый (seriuj) |
фиолетовый (fioletoviuj) drk сиреневый (sireneviuj) lt лиловый (liloviuj) |
Scottish Gaelic |
donn | pinc | buidhe | liath glas |
purpaidh |
Serbian | браон (braon) |
роза (roza) |
наранджаста (narandžasta) |
сиво (sivo) |
љубичаста (ljubičasta) |
Slovak | hnedá | ružová | oranžová | šedá | fialová |
Slovenian | rjava | roza | oranžna | siva | vijolična |
Spanish | moreno marrón castaño color café |
rosa | color naranja anaranjado |
gris | morado |
Sranan | broin | lekti redi | ólenisi | kulei | lila |
Swedish | brun (c) brunt (n) bruna (pl) |
skär (c) skärt (n) skära (pl) |
orange (c) orangt (n) oranga (pl) |
grå (c) grått (n) gråa (pl) |
violett (c) violett (n) violetta (pl) |
Tamil | கபிலம் (kabilam) |
இளஞ்சிவப்பு (iḷanchivappu) |
செம்மஞ்சள் (semmanjaḷ) |
நரை நிறம் (narai niram) |
ஊதா (ūdā) |
Telugu | పాల (paala) |
చంద్రకావి (chandra kaavi) |
నారింజ (naarinza) |
మసర (masara) |
త్సామనము (tsaamanamu) |
Thai | สีน้ำตาล (see-num-tarn) |
สีชมพู (see-chom-poo) |
สีส้ม (see-som) |
สีเทา (see-tao) |
สีม่วง (see-muang) |
Tibetan | ལྗང་ཁུ (gyamyug) |
ལི་ཝང (liwang) |
མུ་མན (muman) |
||
Turkish | kahve rengi | pembe | turuncu | gri | mor |
Tuvaluan | - | - | ólenisi | kulei | - |
Vietnamese | nâu | hồng | cam | xám | tím |
Welsh | brown | pinc | oren | llwyd glas |
piws porffor |
Xhosa | ntsundu | pinki | orenji | ngwevu | mfusa |
Yiddish | ברוין (broyn) |
ראָז (roz) |
מאַראַנץ (marants) |
גרוי (groy) |
לילאַ (lila) |
Yucatec Maya | 'ik/chak/k'an | chak | k'an | 'ik/saak | - |
More colour words and notes on colours in individual languages:
Afrikaans,
Arabic,
Dutch,
Filipino,
French,
German,
Irish (Gaelic),
Italian,
Japanese,
Spanish,
Tuvaluan,
Vietnamese
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me. If you can provide audio recordings of any of these phrases, please send them to
It would be interesting if you could also indicate:
Lists of colours
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colors
Research on colour words
http://www.putlearningfirst.com/language/research/colour_words.html
The colour of words
http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/colour.htm
Useful foreign phrases | Colours | Numerals | Numbers | Time expressions | Idioms | Proverbs | Tongue twisters | Language names | Country names | UDHR | Tower of Babel | Omniglot