Do you know what is purple in spanish? Purple is more than just a colour; it has many powerful meanings. The word comes from the Greek word Porphyra. Read this article to find out more about the colour purple in Spanish.
What Is Purple In Spanish?
The word purple in Spanish means Morado. It refers to the colour in the middle of blue and red. “Morado” can mean shades of purple, from lighter shades to darker, richer shades. There are also words like “púrpura” that mean purple but can have slightly different meanings or uses based on the setting, like in writing or fashion. Knowing these differences helps you describe the colour correctly in different settings.
Best Ways To Say Purple In Spanish
The Phoenicians lived in the Tyre area of the Mediterranean. They made a dye from mollusk shells. Because they were so expensive, only kings, queens, and lords could wear clothes this colour. The idea that purple is the colour of royalty and a sign of wealth and power comes from this.
As a side note, this colour stood for faith when ancient kings started to think they were gods or the children of gods, giving them a sense of grandeur.Here are the different ways to say “purple” in Spanish and examples of when to use each. The Spanish word for a colour usually relies on its tone and a few other things we will discuss below.
Morado – Mulberry
The main difference between Morado and púrpura is that Morado is a real colour that is part of the electromagnetic range of light, while purple is not. Púrpura is used to describe any colour between red and blue. However, mulberry is also often used to describe these tones without any specific meaning. In all Latin American countries, Morado can also mean a bruise rudely.
Nazareno – Nazarene
In South America, the purple Nazareno, or just Nazareno, colour is linked to the clothes that Jesus Christ wore before he was crucified because he said he was the king of the Jews. His punishment for blasphemy included putting on the clothes of a king to make him look bad before torturing him. It can also mean a Catholic saint, but if you ask for any textile or clothing item in Latin America and say “Nazarene,” they will bring you a bright purple colour that you can see on Catholic images of Jesus Nazarene or Jesus of Nazareth.
Violeta – Violet
This colour is any shade of purple or blue, which is why it’s also known as purple-blue. On the other hand, violet can also mean viola flowers, which have the same name and are the exact colour of this hue. People who speak Spanish also use it as a proper name a lot. This is because violas are a very pretty and valuable flower.
Lila – Lilac
It is a shade of purple close to violet, but the colour is much lighter and softer. It was named after a flower with the same name, perfectly showing how this popular purple looks. It is also a very common Spanish proper name for women.
Lavanda – Lavender
Lavanda is a light shade of violet. It gets its name from the flowering plant that smells so good, lavender. People also call it wisteria, but Spanish people use lavender instead. Cleaning goods often use this plant’s smell, which is why these chemicals are this colour and are sometimes said to refer to the scent.
Violáceo – Violaceus
Violet is the seventh colour in the visible light range and refers to violet-coloured things. We can find it in books and poems since it is an old, formal word. The purple colour that marks bruises takes a while to show up, and when it does, it changes between different violet tones.
Malva – Mauve
It is a soft colour, like lilac. Lilac is in the violet and fuchsia family, which can also be linked to pink. According to its name, it comes from the purple flower. The colour orchid has the same tone and comes from the same flower. The Spanish name for it is mauve colour, which comes from an experiment William Perkins did by mistake when he was trying to oxidise aniline to get quinine. At the time, quinine was the only medicine that could treat malaria.
Purpurino – Purpurine
This word can mean purple in Spanish, but not the colour itself. It means something with different shades of purple. In a different sense, it can also mean a clear metal powder mixed with paint before it dries to make it look shiny. The feminine word Purpurina can also mean craft and decorating powder that looks like frosting, brilliantine, or glitter.
Escarlata – Scarlet
Scarlet used to mean a deep red closer to wine, but that wasn’t always the case. Scarlet is a shade of purple between purple and red. It was hard to make, just like Tyrian purple, and it was one of the most valuable fabrics. Rulers, kings, emperors, counts, and others from high social ranks wore it.
Conclusion
Through royalty and the beauty of flowers, purple has become a colour that stands for beauty, power, selflessness, wealth, order, luxury, and even weirdness. It has become very important and controversial, especially in the fashion, flower, and cloth industries. We hope these different ways of saying “purple” in Spanish were interesting for you and will help you understand the different shades of purple when you speak Spanish. Hopefully, this article can describe to you what is purple in spanish.
FAQ
What Does Purple Mean In Spanish?
In Spanish, to be purple, you say “Morado.” The word is often used to describe colour in everyday speech.
Is There Another Word In Spanish For Purple?
To be clear, “púrpura” is another word that can mean purple, but it’s not used as much in everyday speech and may only be used to talk about shades in art or history.
How Do You Use Morado In Everyday Speech?
People use the word “Morado” to describe different shades of purple, from light lavender to deep violet. They do this when discussing the colour of things, fashion, or home decor.
Does The Colour Morado Have A Traditional Meaning In Spanish-Speaking Countries?
Depending on the society and custom, the word “morado” can mean nobleness, spirituality, or even grief in some Spanish-speaking areas.
What Are Some Everyday Sayings Or Idioms That Use Morado?
It’s possible to use colours symbolically in Spanish. For example, “ponerse morado,” which means “to turn purple,” means to eat or drink too much.