Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Colors
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Name of Colors in Latin (with audio)
Hello Latin learners,
In this lesson we will learn the adjectives of colors in Latin.
Color names are adjectives. It should be noted that there are several Latin terms for the same color.
Color names are adjectives. 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.
Colors = Colores [ko'lo'res] in Latin.
Happy learning ! :)
Main Colors in Latin
|
Latin |
English |
Pronunciation (audio) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not used very often in classical Latin | |
| aureus, a, um | golden, gold | ||
| flāvus, a, um | yellow, blond/e-haired | ||
| lūteus, a, um | yellow | Not often used | |
| viridis, e | green | 3rd declension adjective | |
| caeruleus, a, um | blue | ||
| purpureus, a, um | purple | ||
| roseus, a, um | pink, rose | ||
| fuscus, a, um | brown | ||
| cānus, a, um | gray, gray-haired |
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 (a dull blue-green,
passing into graying blue) |
| 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 (esp. of eyes); lavender
(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)
[< cervus deer/Hirsch/ciervo] |
| 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 (from almost
neutral brownish gray to dull grayish brown; of horses only) |
| 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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