Naming colours varies from culture to culture. What’s even more interesting is what associations go with a certain colour. Just think of the English phrase ‘green with envy’ translates as ‘yellow with envy’ (sárga az irígységtől).

Our first colour in this series is RED for which we have two words: PIROS and VÖRÖS. One of the colours of the national flag is PIROS, but wine is VÖRÖS.

Due to their etymology, the two words are used in different contexts (piros – comes from pír – the colour of the rising sun, while vörös originates from vér – blood, véres=bloody)

PIROS

VÖRÖS

Our second colour is ZÖLD. So, what’s GREEN in Hungarian apart from the grass?

ZÖLD

IDIOMS

zöldfülű
inexperienced,
wet behind the ears

Our third colour is SÁRGA. So, what’s YELLOW in Hungarian?

SÁRGA

Sárga az irígységtől. He/she is green with envy.

(envy causes liver disease, tha latter causes hepatitis)

Our next colour is FEHÉR. So, what’s WHITE in Hungarian?

Our last colour is FEKETE. So, what’s BLACK in Hungarian?