Colour words in Danish

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General colour-related words:

• farve = colour, tint, hue, dye
• få farve / kulør = to colour
• farvede = coloured
• farverig / blomstrende = colourful
• farveblindhed = colour blindness
• lyse = light (coloured)
• mørke = dark (coloured)

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sort [soɐ̯d̥] - black, illicit (without incurring taxation)

Etymology: from the Old Norse svartr (black), from the Proto-Germanic *swartaz (black), from Proto-Indo-European *swordo- (dirty, dark, black).

Expressions:

• skrevet sort på hvidt = written in black and white
• en sort liste = a black list
• sorte får = black sheep
• sorte hul = black hole
• Sortehavet = The Black Sea

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hvid [viðˀ] - white, blank

Etymology: from the Old Norse hvítr (white), from the Proto-Germanic *hwītaz (white), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱweytós (bright, white).

Expressions:

• hvid dværg = white dwarf
• hvid elefant = white elephant
• Hviderusland = Belarus (“White Russia”)
• hvidkål = whtie cabbage
• hvidløg = garlic (“white onion”)
• hvidvin = white wine

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rød [ʁœ̞ðˀ] - red, blushing

Etymology: from the Old Norse rauðr (red), from the Proto-Germanic *raudaz (red), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (red).

Expressions:

• rødkål = cabbage
• rød glente = red kite
• rødlig = reddish
• rødvin = red wine

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gul [ɡ̊uːˀl] - yellow

Etymology: from the Old Norse gulr (yellow), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (to flourish, green, yellow).

Expressions:

• gult kort = yellow card
• gulsot = jaundice (“yellow sickness”)
• gule trøje = yellow jersey

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blå [b̥lɔːˀ] - blue

Etymology: from the Old Norse blár (blue), from the Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (blue). from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. (blue, dark blue, grey, black).

Expressions:

• blålig = bluish
• blålig grøn = bluish
• blåt blod / blågrøn = bluish green, cyan, teal
• blåmejse = blue tit
• blåhval = blue whale
• blåbær = blueberry

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grøn [ɡ̊ʁɶnˀ] - green

Etymology: from the Old Norse grœnn (green, fresh), from the Proto-Germanic *grōniz (green). from Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- (to grow, become green).

Expressions:

• grønlig = greenish
• grønt område = green space
• grøn te = green tea
• grøntsag = green vegetable
• grønspætte = green woodpecker
• grønthandler = greengrocer’s
• grøn te = green tea

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brun [b̥ʁuːˀn] - brown

Etymology: from the Old Norse brúnn (brown, bright [metal]), from the Proto-Germanic *brūnaz (grey, brown). from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (grey, brown).

Expressions:

• brunlig = brownish
• brun bjørn = brown bear
• brunhåret = brown-haired

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lyserød [ˈlysəʁœ̞ðˀ] / pink - pink

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orange [oˈʁɑŋɕə] - orange

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grå [gʁɔːˀ] - grey, deal, dismal, drab, dull, gloomy, leaden, mousy, sullen

Etymology: from the Old Norse grár (grey), from the Proto-Germanic *grēwaz (grey). from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰreh₁- (to grow, become green).

Expressions:

• at gråne = to go/become grey
• gråt hår = grey hair

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lilla [ˈlela] = purple, mauve, lilac

Etymology: from the French lilas (lilac).

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Other colours

• sølvfarvet [ˈsølfɑːvəð] = silver
• guld [ɡ̊ul] = gold
• turkis [tˢyɐ̯ˈkʰiːˀsˈ] = turquoise