Words for colours in Breton (Brezhoneg) with notes and colour-related expressions.
Colour in Breton is liv, which also means complexion or
appearance.
Related words include:
livañ - to colour
unliv - monochrome
du [ˈdyː] - black, dark, swollen, hungry
Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *duβ (black), from Proto-Celtic *dubus (black), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (black).
Expressions / Related words
duañ, duaat - to blacken, make black
du-bran - very black
peurzu - deep black
gwenn [ˈɡwɛn] - white, pale, pure, brilliant, sacred, useless, vain
Etymology: from the Proto-Brythonic *gwɨnn (white), from Proto-Celtic *windos (white), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱweytos (bright; shine).
Expressions / Related words
gwennañ - to whiten
gwin gwenn - white wine
ruz [ˈryːs] - red; dry (plant); unchained (anger)
Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *rʉð (red), from Proto-Celtic *roudos (red), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (red).
Expressions / Related words
ruziañ - to redden
gwin ruz - red wine
melen [ˈmeː.lɛn] - yellow, fair, blonde
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *melinos, from *meli (honey), from Proto-Indo-European *mélid (honey)
Expressions / Related words
meleniñ - to yellow, ripen
melen-ruz - orange ("yellow-red")
melen d'ov - egg yolk
terzhienn-velen - yellow fever
glas [ˈɡlɑːs] - blue, green (vegetation), grey (horse), raw, fresh, acerbic, pale
Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *glas (green, blue), from Proto-Celtic *glastos (green, blue), probably from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃stós, from *ǵʰelh₃- (“green, yellow”).
Expressions / Related words
glazniñ - to become green/blue
gwer - green (artificial)
Etymology: from Latin viridis (green)
ruzdu - brown ("red-brown"); liv kistin - chestnut brown; gell - brown; duard [ˈdyː.art] - brown or black (hair)
Etymology (gell): Proto-Celtic *gello- (yellow) or *gelo- (white), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (gleam, yellow)
If you need to type in many different languages, the Q International Keyboard can help. It enables you to type almost any language that uses the Latin, Cyrillic or Greek alphabets, and is free.
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.
du [ˈdyː] - black, dark, swollen, hungry
gwenn [ˈɡwɛn] - white, pale, pure, brilliant, sacred, useless, vain
ruz [ˈryːs] - red; dry (plant); unchained (anger)
melen [ˈmeː.lɛn] - yellow, fair, blonde
glas [ˈɡlɑːs] - blue, green (vegetation), grey (horse), raw, fresh, acerbic, pale
ruzdu - brown ("red-brown"); liv kistin - chestnut brown; gell - brown; duard [ˈdyː.art] - brown or black (hair)
roz - pink
orañjez, orañj - orange; melenruz - orange ("yellow-red")
louet - grey, mouldy
glasruz - purple ("blue-red")
arc'hant [ˈaʁχãnt] - silver, money
aour [ˈawʁ] - gold
, 
and 
are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.
