The Ultimate Guide To Mastering Color Names In 12 Languages

Looking for the right word to describe that majestic velvet robe you saw to your friend abroad? Never be at a loss of words again.

By Steph Koyfman

January 6, 2019

First, you learn your ABCs. Then, you learn your color names.

If that’s more or less the order you did it in as a kid, you may as well not overlook this very important set of vocabulary when you’re learning how to walk and talk in a new language. Knowing your color names can sometimes mean the difference between successfully following directions to someone’s place (“just turn right at the green house on the corner”) and circling the block like a fool. And besides, if you care about being descriptive at all, color is a great way to paint a picture with your words.

Learning color names in other languages can also allegedly open you up to a whole new way of experiencing color. The language you speak can affect the way you see and think about color because different languages all have different ways of dividing up the color spectrum. If you’re used to having separate terms for green and blue, you’re more likely to see them as separate colors than someone who’s accustomed to using one word for both, like a “green-blue.”

Here are naming and pronunciation guides for all the basic color vocabulary you could need in 12 different languages.

And if you think you’ve got the hang of it, try testing your knowledge:

Quiz: Do You Know The Colors In French?
Quiz: Do You Know The Colors In Spanish?

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