Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Colors

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🎨 Name of Colors in Latin (with audio)
Latin colors.png

Hello Latin learners, Colors are an essential aspect of our daily lives and play a vital role in shaping our emotions, perceptions, and experiences. In Latin, the language of the ancient Romans, colors have their own unique names that not only reflect their visual appearance but also hold cultural significance. This page will introduce you to the vocabulary of colors in Latin, complete with audio pronunciation. Whether you are a student of the language, an enthusiast of Roman culture, or simply looking to expand your vocabulary, learning the names of colors in Latin can be a fun and engaging experience. With the help of audio pronunciation, you can not only learn the correct spelling of each color but also master the pronunciation like a native speaker. So, get ready to dive into the world of colors in Latin and enhance your language skills in a fun and interactive way!

  • It should be noted that there are many variations for colors in Latin.
  • You will first find a limited list of colors and their pronunciation and at the end of the lesson a more comprehensive list.

How to Say "Color" in Latin[edit | edit source]

First, here is how to say "Colors" in Latin:

Colores [ko'lo'res]

Main Colors in Latin (text and audio)[edit | edit source]

The table below showcases the main colors in Latin, featuring both text and audio pronunciation.


Latin

English

Pronunciation (audio)
āter, ātra, ātrum black (like a coal, not glossy); dark, gloomy
niger, nigra, nigrum black (glossy); dark
albus, a, um white (dead white, not shining)
candidus, a, um white (shining, dazzling)
ruber, rubra, rubrum red
rūfus, a, um ruddy, red-haired
aurantius, a, um orange
aureus, a, um golden, gold
flāvus, a, um* yellow, blond/e-haired  
lūteus, a, um* yellow, saffron-colored
viridis, e green
caeruleus, a, um blue
purpureus, a, um purple
roseus, a, um pink, rose
fuscus, a, um brown
cānus, a, um gray, gray-haired

*Both "lūteus" and "flāvus" can be translated to mean "yellow" in English, but in Latin, they carry nuanced distinctions pertaining to different shades or implications of yellow.

  1. lūteus: This term typically refers to a saffron or deep yellow color. It's derived from "lūtum," which means "yellow dye" or "saffron."
  2. flāvus: This term generally refers to a yellow that might be likened to blonde or golden. In fact, "flāvus" is often used to describe blonde hair. The word has a broader use and might be associated with the colors of golden hair, wheat, or ripe grain.

So, while both terms indicate shades of yellow, the exact shade or context in which you'd use them can differ. If you're talking about blonde hair, for instance, "flāvus" would be more appropriate, but if you're referring to something with a saffron hue, "lūteus" might be the better choice.

Examples of Use[edit | edit source]

This section provides examples of how these colors are used in Latin sentences, helping to understand the context and usage better.

āter, ātra, ātrum
Vestis ātra - The garment is black (dark, gloomy).
niger, nigra, nigrum
Equus niger - The horse is glossy black.
albus, a, um
Nix alba - The snow is white (dead white, not shining).
candidus, a, um
Luna candida - The moon is shining white.
ruber, rubra, rubrum
Rosa rubra - The rose is red.
rūfus, a, um
Capillus rūfus - Red-haired.
aurantius, a, um
Caelum aurantium - The sky is orange at dawn.
aureus, a, um
Folium aureum - The leaf is golden.
flāvus, a, um
Coma flava - Blond hair.
lūteus, a, um
Tunica lutea - A saffron-colored tunic.
viridis, e
Herba viridis - The grass is green.
caeruleus, a, um
Mare caeruleum - The sea is blue.
purpureus, a, um
Vestis purpurea - A purple garment.
roseus, a, um
Caelum roseum - The sky is pink at sunset.
fuscus, a, um
Terra fusca - The brown earth.
cānus, a, um
Canis cānus - A gray dog.


Quiz[edit | edit source]

Test your knowledge of the Latin colors with this short quiz. Choose the correct Latin term for each color described.

  1. What is the Latin word for 'glossy black'?
    a) āter
    b) niger
    c) albus
  1. Which term means 'shining white'?
    a) candidus
    b) lūteus
    c) caeruleus
  1. How do you say 'green' in Latin?
    a) rūfus
    b) viridis
    c) roseus
  1. If something is 'saffron-colored', it is:
    a) flāvus
    b) aurantius
    c) lūteus
  1. What is the Latin word for 'purple'?
    a) purpureus
    b) fuscus
    c) aureus

Quiz Solutions[edit | edit source]

Here are the answers to the quiz on Latin colors:

1. What is the Latin word for 'glossy black'?

  Answer: b) niger

2. Which term means 'shining white'?

  Answer: a) candidus

3. How do you say 'green' in Latin?

  Answer: b) viridis

4. If something is 'saffron-colored', it is:

  Answer: c) lūteus

5. What is the Latin word for 'purple'?

  Answer: a) purpureus

Main Colors in Latin (video)[edit | edit source]


Comprehensive List of Colors in Latin[edit | edit source]

The following table provides a comprehensive list of colors in Latin, including their correct spelling and translation in English.

Latin English
âter, âtra, âtrum dull black
niger, nigra, nigrum glossy black
piceus, -a, -um pitch black
furvus, -a, -um dark, black
pullus, -a, -um dark-colored, dark gray
viridis, -is, -e green (most common term)
virêns, -ntis green (some shade of)
viridulus, -a, -um green (some shade of)
prasinus, -a, -um bright grass green, leek green
smaragdinus, -a, -um emerald green
herbâceus, -a, -um grass green
olîvâceus, -a, -um olive green
venetus, -a, -um (deep) sea green
glaucus, -a, -um (light) sea green
perviridis, -is, -e very green
chlôrînus, -a, -um chartreuse
vireô, -êre, -uî to be green (of green foliage)
viridêns, -ntis green (of things growing)
virêscô, -êre to become green
subviridis, -is, -e greenish
caeruleus, -a, -um sky-blue (esp. of eyes)
subcaeruleus bluish
cÿaneus, -a, -um dark blue
lîvidus, -a, -um leaden blue
venetus, -a, -um azure blue
caesius, -a, -um bluish gray (pale blue, with a slight mixture of gray)
violâceus, -a, -um mauve;  violet
purpureus, -a, -um purple (dull red with a slight dash of blue)
rûfus, -a, -um red (all shades)
ruber, -bra, -brum red (common term for any pure red)
sanguineus, -a, -um blood red
rutilus, -a, -um bright red
cardinâlis, -is, -e cardinal red
rubidus, -a, -um dark red
cerasinus, -a, -um cherry-red
coccineus, -a, -um crimson;  deep red;  vermilion
phoenîceus, -a, -um pure lively red
russus, -a, -um red, russet
miniâtus, -a, -um scarlet
roseus, -a, -um pink
pûniceus, -a, -um pink;  pure lively red
subroseus, -a, -um pinkish
subruber, -bra, -brum reddish
rubellus, -a, -um reddish
subrûfus, -a, -um reddish
rûfulus, -a, -um reddish (of hair)
rubicundus, -a, -um reddish (of the skin;  flushed)
rôbîginôsus, -a, -um rust-colored
armeniacus, -a, -um dull orange (apricot-color)
fulvus, -a, -um hazel (light to strong brown)
cervînus, -a, -um tawny (darker brown than fulvus)
brunneus, -a, -um brown (of Germanic origin)
spâdîx, -îcis chestnut;  strong brown
badius, -a, -um chestnut (of horses only)
fuscus, -a, -um dark brown
spâdîceus, -a, -um bright brown
gilvus, -a, -um (gilbus) dun-colored, pale yellow
carneus, -a, -um flesh-colored
aurantius, -a, -um orange
lûteus, -a, -um orange;  deep yellow (like egg yolk)
vitellînus, -a, -um deep yellow (like egg yolk [vitellus])
flammeus, -a, -um flame-colored
electricus, -a, -um amber
citreus, -a, -um lemon yellow (purest yellow, without any brightness)
aureus, -a, -um golden (of hair)
aureolus, -a, -um golden
flâvus, -a, -um yellow (commonest term, a pale yellow)
flâvidus, -a, -um yellowish
sufflâvus, -a, -um yellowish (of hair, approaching blond)
râvus, -a, -um yellowish gray
crêtâceus, -a, -um dull white (like chalk [crêta])
albus, -a, -um dead white
candidus, -a, -um shiny white
niveus, -a, -um snow white (the purest white)
subalbus, -a, -um whitish
albulus, -a, -um whitish
subalbidus, -a, -um whitish
eburneus, -a, -um (& -nus) cream-colored
argenteus, -a, -um silvery
cânus, -a, -um light gray (esp. hair)
cânô capite esse to be gray-haired
cânêscô, -uî to become gray
câneô, cânêre, cânuî to become light gray
cinereus, -a, -um ash-gray
cânêscêns, -ntis grayish

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