Blue is a color we see every day. You can identify it from the sky above to the ocean. However, the color means different things in different places. Furthermore, each language has its word for it. Let’s explore how people around the world say blue in different languages and various cultures.
Romance Languages
Spanish
Translation: Azul
Pronunciation: ah-SOOL
Native Script: Azul
Cultural Context: In Spain, blue represents calmness and loyalty. It is often seen in art and festivals. Blue means freedom and peace in Spanish culture.
Idiom: “Estar más azul que el cielo” means to be calm and serene. It is just like the sky.
Etymology: The word “azul” comes from Arabic “al-azul.” It was introduced during the Islamic period in Spain.
French
Translation: Bleu
Pronunciation: bluh
Native Script: Bleu
Cultural Context: In France, blue symbolizes freedom and liberty. It is in the French flag. Blue is linked to artistic movements. You will see it in Picasso’s “Blue Period.”
Idiom: “Rire bleu” refers to laughing without joy. It is often used to describe awkward or forced laughter.
Etymology: The word “bleu” comes from Old French “bleu.” It has Proto-Germanic roots.
Italian8
Translation: Blu
Pronunciation: bloo
Native Script: Blu
Cultural Context: In Italy, blue means sophistication. It is often used in Italian art, fashion, and national symbols.
Idiom: “Essere blu” means to feel sad or melancholic. It is similar to “feeling blue” in English.
Etymology: “Blu” comes from Latin “blavus.” It means pale blue or blue-grey. The roots are linked to ancient Italian color terms.
Germanic Languages
Swedish
Translation: Blå
Pronunciation: bloh
Native Script: Blå
Cultural Context: In Sweden, blue is a symbol of calmness and tranquility. However, it is often linked with the sky and sea. It’s seen in the Swedish flag and national symbols.
Idiom: “Blåsa hot” means to make empty threats. It is similar to “blowing hot air.”
Etymology: “Blå” comes from Old Norse “blár,” meaning blue. The root is linked to the ancient Scandinavian language.
Danish
Translation: Blå
Pronunciation: bloh
Native Script: Blå
Cultural Context: Blue in Denmark symbolizes trust and peace. It is prominently seen in art and design.
Idiom: “Blå mandag” means to have a slow or unproductive Monday. You can use the expression after the weekends.
Etymology: “Blå” comes from Old Norse “blár.” The word is the origin of many Scandinavian terms for blue.
German
Translation: Blau
Pronunciation: blow
Native Script: Blau
Cultural Context: In Germany, blue is associated with stability. It’s a prominent color in German flags, art, and uniforms.
Idiom: “Blau machen” means to skip work or school. It literally means “to make blue.”
Etymology: “Blau” comes from the Old High German “blāo.” It is related to color terms in Proto-Germanic languages.
Dutch
Translation: Blauw
Pronunciation: blouw
Native Script: Blauw
Cultural Context: In the Netherlands, blue represents clarity and peace. It’s commonly seen in Dutch art and design.
Idiom: “Blauw bloed,” or blue blood refers to heritage. It implies noble origins.
Etymology: “Blauw” originates from the Old Dutch “blāo.” The word has evolved from Proto-Germanic “blēwaz.”
Slavic Languages
Russian
Translation: Синий (Siniy)
Pronunciation: SEE-nee
Native Script: Синий
Cultural Context: In Russia, blue symbolizes wisdom and protection. It’s a color often used in folk art and cultural rituals.
Idiom: “Синий чулок” or blue stocking refers to a highly educated woman. You can use it in a critical sense.
Etymology: “Синий” comes from Proto-Slavic “sinъ.” The word refers to a deep blue color.
Polish
Translation: Niebieski
Pronunciation: nyeh-BYES-kee
Native Script: Niebieski
Cultural Context: Blue in Poland is tied to serenity and loyalty. It appears frequently in Polish folk art and national symbols.
Idiom: “Mieć niebieskie oczy” means to be naïve or innocent. It is often used to describe someone easily deceived.
Etymology: “Niebieski” comes from Old Polish “niebieskij.” It means sky-colored or blue.
Czech
Translation: Modrý
Pronunciation: MOH-dree
Native Script: Modrý
Cultural Context: Blue symbolizes reliability in Czech culture. It’s a frequent color in folk traditions.
Idiom: “Modré z nebe” means something rare or incredible. It means “blue from the sky.”
Etymology: “Modrý” stems from Proto-Slavic “modrъ.”
Asian Languages
Chinese
Translation: 蓝 (Lán)
Pronunciation: lan
Native Script: 蓝
Cultural Context: In China, blue represents immortality. It’s a color found in traditional porcelain. Blue is common in artist’s work in China.
Idiom: “蓝天白云” (blue sky, white clouds) refers to an ideal, peaceful, and perfect environment.
Etymology: “蓝” comes from ancient Chinese. The character means the sky or a blue-green color.
Japanese
Translation: 青 (Ao)
Pronunciation: ah-oh
Native Script: 青
Cultural Context: Blue in Japan symbolizes calm and wisdom. It’s a traditional color seen in garments and festivals.
Idiom: “青天の霹靂” or a sudden blue sky thunderclap. It refers to a surprising or unexpected event.
Etymology: “青” refers to blue and green shades in old Japanese texts. The meaning overlaps.
Hindi
Translation: नीला (Neela)
Pronunciation: nee-lah
Native Script: नीला
Cultural Context: In India, blue represents divinity. The color is linked to the Hindu god Krishna, who is often depicted with blue skin.
Idiom: “नीला पड़ना” or turning blue means to become very angry.
Etymology: “नीला” comes from Sanskrit “nīla.” It means dark blue and has roots in ancient Indian texts.
Korean
Translation: 파랑 (Parang)
Pronunciation: pah-rahng
Native Script: 파랑
Cultural Context: In Korea, blue is often associated with calmness and the ocean. It is used in various cultural contexts. A common example is the traditional attire.
Idiom: “파란만장” means a life full of ups and downs. It mimics the waves in the sea.
Etymology: “파랑” comes from the Korean word for blue. It is deeply linked to nature and the seas in Korean culture.
Urdu
Translation: نیلا (Neela)
Pronunciation: nee-lah
Native Script: نیلا
Cultural Context: Blue in Urdu-speaking countries represents tranquility and divine protection. Blue is seen in Islamic art and the color of the sky.
Idiom: “نیلا ہونا” refers to someone turning blue from anger or frustration.
Etymology: “نیلا” comes from Sanskrit “nīla.” The deep blue color is linked to historical language evolution in South Asia.
Other languages
Latvian
Translation: Zils
Pronunciation: zeels
Native Script: Zils
Cultural Context: In Latvia, blue is linked to peace and the vast skies of the region. It’s also associated with the national flag and identity.
Idiom: “Zils no dusmām” or blue from anger. It refers to someone becoming very angry or enraged.
Etymology: “Zils” comes from Proto-Baltic “zils.” It means blue, which is related to the sky or ocean.
Lithuanian
Translation: Mėlynas
Pronunciation: meh-lee-nahs
Native Script: Mėlynas
Cultural Context: Blue in Lithuania represents the connection to nature, especially the sky and lakes. It appears in national symbols.
Idiom: “Būti mėlynu” means to be deeply saddened or melancholy.
Etymology: “Mėlynas” comes from Proto-Indo-European roots. It is related to ancient Lithuanian terms for blue.
Finnish
Translation: Sininen
Pronunciation: see-nee-nen
Native Script: Sininen
Cultural Context: In Finland, blue is linked to nature. It is especially used for many lakes and the northern sky. It is a key color in Finnish culture and identity.
Idiom: “Sininen hetki” or blue moment refers to the twilight time. The sky turns blue before the night falls.
Etymology: “Sininen” is derived from Proto-Finnic. It is related to color terms found in Finnish language roots.
Hungarian
Translation: Kék
Pronunciation: kehk
Native Script: Kék
Cultural Context: Blue in Hungary represents peace and loyalty. It is often used in folk art and national imagery. Blue is linked to harmony.
Idiom: “Kék szeme van” means someone has blue eyes. In other words, the person is naive or innocent.
Etymology: “Kék” comes from two roots. It is linked to ancient Hungarian and Uralic languages.
Turkish
Translation: Mavi
Pronunciation: mah-vee
Native Script: Mavi
Cultural Context: In Turkey, blue symbolizes calmness and trust. It is commonly seen in the famous blue evil eye amulet that may ward off negativity.
Idiom: “Maviye inmek” means to go into the blue. It means to enter unknown or uncertain territory.
Etymology: “Mavi” originates from the Arabic “māʾī,” meaning blue. It has evolved through Turkish culture.
Kazakh
Translation: Көк (Kök)
Pronunciation: kʊk
Native Script: Көк
Cultural Context: Blue in Kazakh culture is associated with the sky. It’s a color of significance in the Kazakh flag and national pride.
Idiom: “Көкке көтеру” means raising to the sky. The idiom is a praise to elevate someone highly.
Etymology: “Көк” comes from ancient Turkic languages. It means the sky and blue tones in nature.
Arabic
Translation: أزرق (Azraq)
Pronunciation: az-rahk
Native Script: أزرق
Cultural Context: In Arabic-speaking countries, blue is often tied to spirituality. It is seen in the design of amulets that counter the evil eye.
Idiom: “العيون الزرقاء” (blue eyes) refers to someone rare or special. It describes someone with an unusual or striking characteristic.
Etymology: “Azraq” comes from classical Arabic. It is linked to the color blue.
Hebrew
Translation: כחול (Kahol)
Pronunciation: kah-hol
Native Script: כחול
Cultural Context: In Hebrew, blue symbolizes divine spirituality. The color is linked to the ancient Jewish tradition of wearing blue tzitzit for holiness.
Idiom: “עיניים כחולות” (blue eyes) refers to a person who stands out or is considered rare and exceptional.
Etymology: “כחול” traces back to ancient Semitic languages. It is related to terms for blue in biblical texts.
Telugu
Translation: నీలం (Neelam)
Pronunciation: nee-lahm
Native Script: నీలం
Cultural Context: Blue in Telugu-speaking regions means calmness. The color is linked to Hindu mythology.
Idiom: “నీలి గాలులు” or blue winds. It means something rare or surprising.
Etymology: “నీలం” traces back to Sanskrit and other ancient Indian languages. The root meaning is dark blue or indigo.
Practice saying blue in different languages
Now that you know all about blue in different languages, you can impress your friends! Imagine saying “azul” in Spanish or “Mavi” in Turkish. Blue connects us all. No matter where we are in the world, it means peace and trust. Next, get ready to say black in different languages.