Colors are everywhere. Besides being a direct descriptor, they are also used to imply mood, emotions, and other meanings. If you’re learning Tagalog, then it’s essential to know the colors’ Tagalog equivalents to help in communication and description. So, to begin, what are the colors in Tagalog?
Here are almost all colors in Tagalog.
Primary Colors in Tagalog
Let’s start with the primary colors. These are the Tagalog translations for the basic colors we encounter every day:
1. Pula → Red
2. Bughaw, Asul → Blue
- Bughaw is the native Tagalog word for blue.
- Asul comes from the Spanish word for blue, azul.
- Asul is more commonly used.
3. Dilaw, Amarilyo → Yellow
- Out of the two translations, dilaw is the more commonly used term.
- Amarilyo comes from the Spanish word for yellow, amarillo.
Secondary Colors in Tagalog
Secondary colors are equally important and provide more variety in descriptions. Here are some key secondary colors in Tagalog:
1. Dalandan, Kahel → Orange
- Dalandan came from the local name of citrus aurantium or “bitter orange,” a fruit native to Southeast Asia.
- Kahel comes from the Spanish word for orange, cajel.
2. Berde, Luntian → Green
- Berde comes from the Spanish word for green, verde.
- Luntian is mostly used to describe greenery or the greenness of something uncountable, such as landscapes.
- Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Puno ang hardin ng luntiang dahon. |
The garden is full of green leaves. |
- Luntian can also be translated as looking green or “greenish.” It may or may not be preceded by the word tila [like a, -like].
- Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
May luntiang marka sa iyong papel. |
There’s a greenish mark on your paper. |
|
May tila luntiang marka sa iyong papel. |
There’s a green-like mark on your paper. |
- The commonly used term is berde.
3. Lila, Morado, Ube → Violet, Purple
- Lila and Morado are of Spanish origin.
- The more commonly used term is lila.
- Lila can also describe lavender and lilac, which are lighter shades of purple.
- The word ube comes from the local term for purple yam. To indicate the color, it is usually preceded by the word kulay [color].
- Example:
| Tagalog | English (literal translation) |
|---|---|
|
Ang kanyang kwaderno ay kulay ube. |
Their notebook is the color of purple yam. |
Neutral Colors in Tagalog
Neutral colors often form the backdrop of our daily lives. Here are the translations for some common neutral colors:
1. Itim → Black
2. Puti → White
3. Kayumanggi, Tsokolate → Brown
- Kayumanggi is mostly used to describe the common Filipino complexion, which is light brown or tan.
- Example:
- Kayumanggi is mostly used to describe the common Filipino complexion, which is light brown or tan.
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ang kanyang balat ay kayumanggi. |
Their skin is light brown. |
- Tsokolate came from the English word chocolate and is usually used to refer to darker shades of brown. Tsokolate can refer to both the color and food. To avoid confusion, it is usually preceded by the word kulay [color] to indicate the color.
- Tsokolate is the more commonly used term.
4. Abo, Abuhin, Malamaya → Gray
- Abo means ash or ashes in Tagalog. Abuhin, meanwhile, means “grayish.”
- Malamaya is an obscure Tagalog word that fuses the words “mala” [like a] and Maya, a local bird known for its brownish or grayish feathers.
- Of the three, Abo is the more commonly used term.
5. Garing → Ivory
- According to the University of the Philippines (UP) dictionary, garing means white color with a tinge of yellow.
Other Colors in Tagalog
Here are the other colors with no specific categories:
1. Rosas, Kalimbahin → Pink
- Rosas means rose. Although roses come in different colors, the color rosas usually refers to pink or even sometimes red. It may or may not be preceded by the word kulay [color].
- Example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ang kanyang kamiseta ay kulay rosas. |
Their shirt is pink. |
- To make it clearer that you are referring to the color pink, kalimbahin is the more recommended translation. That being said, rosas is the more commonly used term.
2. Ginto → Gold
- Ginto refers to both the metal and the color.
3. Pilak → Silver
- Pilak refers to both the metal and the color.
4. Tanso → Bronze
- Tanso refers to both the metal and the color.
Bring Color To Your Words
Every language has a name for each color, and these names are more than just labels—they carry cultural significance, historical context, and even emotional connotations. Colors play a vital role in communication, helping us describe the world around us with precision and nuance. They can evoke emotions, signify traditions, and convey information in ways that transcend mere words.
Understanding the names and significance of colors in a language enhances one’s ability to engage more deeply with the culture. It opens up new ways to appreciate literature, art, and daily interactions. When learning a language, incorporating color names into your vocabulary practice can make learning more vivid and relatable.
To help you in your journey to learning colors in Tagalog, might we suggest using Turong Wika?
Turong Wika is an app that specializes in teaching conversational Tagalog. It has interactive lessons you can repeat to help retain information and a cheat sheet where you can refresh your memory.
Besides these lessons, Turong Wika also has a practice feature where you can evaluate your current knowledge. Simply click on a topic and choose how many items you want to answer, from five to 25.
Bring color into your vocabulary. Scan the code below to download the app now!
Bring color into your vocabulary. Click on the button below to download the app now!
