Colour words in Swedish

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General colour-related words:

• färg [færj] = colour, hue, dye, paint, colouring, coloration
• färgad [færjad] = coloured, dyed, tinted
• färgglad / färgsprakande / färgstark = colourful
• färggrann = mutli-coloured, garish
• färgpalett = colour palette
• färgsättning = colour scheme, colouration
• att färgsätta = to colour
• att färgkoda = to colour code
• att färglägga = to colour (in), to colourise
• färgblind [færjblind] = colour-blind
• färgblindhet [færjblindheːt] = colour-blindness

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svart [svaʈ] - black, dark, sable, without permission, illegally

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

Expressions:

• att svärta = to blacken, defame, besmirch, vilify
• svart hål = black hole
• svart kaffe = black coffee
• svart te = black tea
• svart låda = black box, flight recorder
• svart marknad = black market
• köpa på svarta marknaden = to hustle
• svart person = black (person)
• svarta vinbär = blackcurrent
• Svarta havet = Black Sea
• svartbjörn = black bear

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vit [viːt] - white

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

Expressions:

• att vitna = to whiten
• vit blodkropp = leucocyte, white blood cell
• vitt bröd = white bread
• vitt kött = white meat
• vitt vin = white wine
• vita tavla = whiteboard

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röd [røːd] - red

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

Expressions:

• att rodna = to redden
• röda blodkropp = red blood cell
• rött kött = red meat
• rödvin = red wine
• röda vinbär = redcurrent
• Röda havet = Red Sea

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gul [gʉːl] - yellow

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

Expressions:

• att gulna = to (turn) yellow
• gulaktig = yellowish
• gula febern = yellow fever
• gult kort = yellow card
• gult ljus = yellow / amber light

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blå [bloː] - 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:

• blå(-)grön = blue-green, teal, honeydew
• blågul = blue-yellow
• blåaktig = bluish
• blåblodig = blue-blooded
• blåbär = (European) blueberry / common bilberry / blue whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
• blå måne = blue moon
• blågräs = bluegrass
• blåklocka = bluebell, bellflower

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grön [grøːn] - green, jade, verdant

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

Expressions:

• att göra grön = to green
• grönaktig = greenish, greeny
• grönt ljus = green light
• grön te = green tea
• grön havssköldpadda = green turtle
• gröna fingrar = green fingers / thumb

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brun [brʉːn] - 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:

• att bryna = to brown (food), sauté
• brunaktig = brownish
• brunhårig = brown haired
• brunkol = lignite, brown coal
• bli brun = to grow/turn brown, get a (sun)tan

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rosa [roːsa] - pink, rosy, rose-coloured

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orange [oranʃ / oranʒ] - orange, orange-coloured
brandgul = orange

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grå [groː] - 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:

• att gråna = to go/become grey
• grått hår = grey hair
• gråhäger = grey heron

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lila [liːla] = purple; purper = purple

Etymology (lila): from the French lilas (lilac).

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Other colours

• silver [silver] = silver
• guld [guld] = gold
• turkos [turkoːs] = turquoise
• indigo [indiːgo] = indigo
• violett [violetː] = violet
• skär [ɧæːr] = rosy, rose-coloured
• beige [beːɧ] = beige