Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Colors

Name of Colors in Latin (with audio)

Hello Latin learners,

In this lesson we will learn the color adjectives in Latin.

• 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.

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

Colores [ko'lo'res]

Main Colors in Latin

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
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

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Comprehensive List of Colors in Latin

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

Sources

• http://www.harbornet.com/folks/theedrich/Colores/Colores.htm
• https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Latin/Colors

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