How Colors Got Their Names: A Journey Through Language and History

Have you ever wondered why we call colors what we do? The names we use for colors today didn’t appear overnight—they evolved over centuries, influenced by culture, nature, and trade. Some colors got their names from materials, others from plants or mythology, and some even from mistakes!

1. Red ❤️ – The Oldest Color Name

The word red comes from the Old English rēad, which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root reudh- meaning "ruddy" or "blood-colored." It’s one of the oldest color names in human history, likely because red is the color of fire and blood—two essential things for survival. Many ancient languages had a word for black and white before they even had a word for red!

2. Blue 💙 – A Borrowed Word

Unlike red, blue was a later addition to many languages. English borrowed it from Old French bleu, which came from a Germanic root blēwaz. Strangely, ancient Greek didn’t have a specific word for blue—Homer even described the sea as “wine-dark” instead of blue! Some cultures, like the Himba tribe in Namibia, still don’t distinguish blue from green, showing how language shapes perception.

3. Yellow 💛 – The Color of Light

The word yellow comes from the Old English geolu, which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root ghel- meaning "to shine" or "to gleam." This root also gave us words like “gold” and “glow.” Because yellow is the color of sunlight and ripe grain, it has often been associated with warmth, happiness, and wealth.

4. Green 💚 – The Color of Growth

Green comes from the Old English grēne, related to growan (to grow). It has always been associated with nature, fertility, and renewal. Interestingly, many languages didn’t originally have a separate word for green—it was often grouped with blue. Even in Japanese, the word ao historically meant both blue and green until midori (green) became more distinct.

5. Orange 🧡 – The Fruit That Named a Color

Before the fruit arrived in Europe, there was no word for the color orange. People just called it "yellow-red" (ġeolurēad in Old English). The name orange comes from the Sanskrit nāraṅga, which passed through Persian, Arabic, and Old French before becoming the English word we use today. Fun fact: Before "orange" became common, English speakers used the word ġeolurēad (yellow-red) to describe the color.

6. Purple 💜 – A Royal Mistake

Purple comes from the Latin purpura, which referred to the famous Tyrian purple dye made from sea snails. It was so expensive to produce that only royalty and the wealthy could afford it. The word ultimately comes from the Greek porphyra, which was also the name of the mollusk used to make the dye. Interestingly, Tyrian purple wasn’t actually what we call purple today—it was closer to a deep red!

7. Pink 🎀 – A Flowery Origin

Unlike other colors, pink is named after a flower! The word comes from the Dianthus plant, known as "pinks" due to the frilly edges of their petals. The verb "to pink" also meant to cut something in a decorative zigzag pattern (like pinking shears). The association between the flower and the color pink dates back to the 17th century.

8. Black ⚫ – The Color of Burnt Things

The word black comes from Old English blæc, meaning "dark" or "ink-like." It’s related to the Proto-Germanic blakaz, which meant "burned" or "charred." Interestingly, in some ancient languages, the words for "black" and "white" were often the first color distinctions made, as they represented fundamental contrasts like night and day.

9. White ⚪ – The Brightest Word

The word white comes from the Old English hwīt, related to the Proto-Indo-European root kwid- meaning "to shine." Just like black, white is one of the earliest color terms recorded in languages. It’s often associated with purity, light, and clarity, which is why many cultures use white for rituals and ceremonies.

10. Gray 🩶 – The Shady Color

Gray (or grey in British English) comes from Old English grǣg, but its origins before that are uncertain. Unlike other colors, gray has had fewer strong symbolic associations, often representing ambiguity or neutrality. It’s also a rare word because it has remained relatively unchanged for over a thousand years.

Language not only helps us describe the world around us but also influences how we perceive it—just ask the cultures that don’t distinguish between blue and green!

So next time you see a vibrant sunset or a deep blue ocean, remember: the colors you see have fascinating stories behind their names!