Introduction to Colours
Table of Content
At Vedantu, we believe in making learning engaging and comprehensive. Explore our guide on "colour names in English" and expand your vocabulary with a wide array of colour names. Whether you're a student, educator, or simply a colour enthusiast, this resource will enhance your understanding of colour terminology and help you learn about colours in English.
Introduction to Colours
Colours are seen as a result of light reflecting from an object. It is a visual character that helps us distinguish between two objects.
We can see a million different shades of colours on Earth.
Different Types of colours are associated with an object and at times are characteristic features of the same.
The colour is visualised by us because the light gets reflected from the object to the retina of the eyes. The eyes can distinguish the colours because every colour has a different wavelength of light which is reflected from the object.
Types of Colour Names in English
Colours are grouped into three basic types
The Primary Colours: Blue, Red, Yellow
The Secondary Colours: Violet, Orange, Green
The Tertiary Colours: Blue-Violet, Red-Violet, Yellow-Green, Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Blue-Green
Basic Colour Names
Below is the chart representing basic colour names for your understanding:
Basic Colour Name List
Below is the table with over 50 basic colour names for your easy access:
Red
The red colour is at 625 to 740 nanometers wavelength.
It is present at the end of the visible spectrum of light and is a very dominant wavelength.
This colour is a symbol of love, hatred, anger, etc.
Blue
It is a primary colour and a colour of nature. The ocean and sky are completely blue.
It is the symbol of stability, inspiration, and wisdom.
This colour is not very common in living organisms.
Green
This colour is very soothing to the eyes. This colour is very dominant in nature and all the plant life is mainly green.
It is a colour that is symbolic of luck, health, and jealousy.
This colour is very important in the improvement of the reading ability of the human eyes.
Orange
This is a colour made up of a mixture of two different colours, i.e. yellow and red.
This colour is symbolic of energy. It often shows excitement, warmth, and enthusiasm.
White
This colour is basically a mix of all colours.
This colour has been representative of the purity of heart and innocence.
This is considered worldwide as the colour of peace and politeness.
In marriages, brides wear white to convey their spirituality.
It is also known to symbolise balance, harmony, and courage.
Black
This colour is often associated with darkness or the absence of light and also symbolizes negativity.
The colour is very directly related to death and evil.
In a professional and corporate scenario, it is associated with style.
This is a colour of business professionals and professional settings.
Yellow
This colour is very bright and fluorescent.
Because of its bright nature, it can attract your attention very easily and from a far distance.
It is a colour that is symbolic of optimism, enlightenment, happiness, and creativity.
Purple
This colour is a very rich colour and is a symbol of royalty, luxury, ambition, and power.
It has got a very rare element and has a supernatural aura with mystery added to it.
It has the shortest wavelength and a very concentrated colour.
Silver
This colour has a shiny lustre to it. It is very common to be seen on silver jewellery.
Various metal articles are painted in silver to give them a very sophisticated and shiny look.
It is often used in automobiles to make them look rich and glamorous.
Grey
This is a very simple and subtle colour which is cool and simple.
It is a very silent colour and is quite emotionless and is directly associated with dullness, as well as formal and conservative.
It is a characteristic colour for loss or depression.
Pink
This colour is very closely associated with love, femininity, and kindness.
It is very closely linked with romance, and femininity and is loved by girls worldwide.
Olive
This colour is a mixture formed of yellow and green colours. Because of its dark and natural tone, it is commonly used by the military and for making military suits and weapons.
The camouflage suits have the main colour olive because of their easy blending ability in dense forest areas.
Violet
This colour is very similar to the purple colour. It is made up of a mixture of red colour, and blue colours.
It is very symbolic of royalty, prosperity, and richness.
Magenta
This colour is a symbol of universal harmony and emotional balance.
It is the characteristic colour for compassion, happiness, contentment, and kindness.
Summary
Chromophobia is known as the fear of colours that can hurt a person’s daily activities. The yellow and red colours together can make you hungry. That is why fast food chains often use this colour combination for branding and decor. The colour wheel was invented by Isaac Newton in the year 1665 as he used a prism to turn white light into a rainbow. Red colour is the first colour a baby can see and that is due to it having the longest wavelength. And a baby's eye can process it much easier.
Test Your Knowledge: Colour Name List
Instructions: Match each colour name to its correct description. Check your answers at the end
1. Red
a. The colour of a ripe tomato
b. The colour of the sky
c. The colour of grass
2. Blue
a. The colour of the ocean
b. The colour of a banana
c. The colour of a pumpkin
3. Green
a. The colour of fresh leaves
b. The colour of chocolate
c. The colour of snow
4. Yellow
a. The colour of a lemon
b. The colour of a blueberry
c. The colour of a grape
5. Black
a. The colour of night
b. The colour of clouds
c. The colour of a rose
6. White
a. The colour of milk
b. The colour of a grape
c. The colour of a fire truck
7. Orange
a. The colour of an orange fruit
b. The colour of a cucumber
c. The colour of the ocean
8. Pink
a. The colour of a flamingo
b. The colour of a pine tree
c. The colour of the sky
9. Brown
a. The colour of a bear
b. The colour of the ocean
c. The colour of a daffodil
10. Gray
a. The colour of a cloudy day
b. The colour of a cherry
c. The colour of a watermelon
Test Your Knowledge: Correct Answers
a. The colour of a ripe tomato
a. The colour of the ocean
a. The colour of fresh leaves
a. The colour of a lemon
a. The colour of night
a. The colour of milk
a. The colour of an orange fruit
a. The colour of a flamingo
a. The colour of a bear
a. The colour of a cloudy day
Takeaways from this Article
Understanding Basic Colour Names: Learn the fundamental types of colours and their common associations, such as Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow.
Exploring Colour Variations: Discover a variety of shades and hues and types of colours, such as Crimson for Red and Turquoise for Blue.
Colour Terminology: Gain familiarity with colour terminology and how specific names can describe subtle differences in hue, saturation, and brightness.
Practical Applications: Apply your knowledge of colour names in real-life contexts, such as design, art, and everyday descriptions.
Enhanced Vocabulary: Expand your vocabulary with advanced colour names like Chartreuse, Periwinkle, and Fuchsia.
Visual Recognition: Improve your ability to identify and name colours accurately, enhancing both personal and professional visual communication skills.
Fun Learning: Enjoy the process of learning about colours and their names, making it a fun and engaging experience.
FAQs on Colour Names: A List for Kids to Learn and Remember
1. What are the 10 most common colour names for kids to learn?
For young children, starting with a basic list is best. The 10 most common and easy-to-remember colour names are:
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple
- Black
- White
- Pink
- Brown
2. What are the primary colours?
The primary colours are Red, Yellow, and Blue. They are called 'primary' because you cannot create them by mixing other colours together. They are the base colours used to make all other colours.
3. What are the secondary colours and how are they made?
The secondary colours are Orange, Green, and Purple. They are created by mixing two primary colours together. Here is how you can make them:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Yellow + Blue = Green
- Blue + Red = Purple
4. What are the seven colours of the rainbow?
The seven colours of the rainbow always appear in the same order. An easy way to remember them is with the name VIBGYOR. The colours are:
- Violet
- Indigo
- Blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
5. What are some simple ways to teach children to remember colour names?
You can make learning colour names fun and easy for kids with these simple methods:
- Object Association: Point to everyday objects and name their colour, like a 'yellow banana' or a 'red apple'.
- Colour Sorting Games: Use coloured blocks or toys and ask your child to sort them into groups by colour.
- Singing Songs: Sing simple songs and rhymes about colours to help with memorisation.
- Art and Craft: Encourage drawing, painting, and crafting with different colours.
6. Why are some colours called 'primary' colours?
Red, yellow, and blue are called primary colours because they are the original source colours. Think of them as 'parent' colours. You cannot mix any other colours to make red, yellow, or blue. However, you need these three colours to mix and create all other colours in the world, like green or purple.
7. For a child, should black and white be considered colours?
Yes, for a child learning to identify colours, black and white are definitely considered colours. In daily life, we refer to them as colours, like a 'white' cloud or a 'black' cat. While in science, they are sometimes described differently (white as a mix of all colours and black as the absence of colour), it's important for kids to learn to name them just like red or blue.
8. Why do we see different shades of the same colour, like light green and dark green?
Different shades exist because a pure colour can be made lighter or darker. Imagine you have green paint. If you add a little bit of white paint, you get a light green. If you add a tiny bit of black paint, you get a dark green. This is why we have so many beautiful variations for every single colour.
9. How do some colours, like 'orange', get their names?
Many colour names come from objects in nature that have that specific colour. The best example is the colour orange, which is named after the fruit, the orange. This made it very easy for people to describe the colour before it had an official name.
10. What happens if you mix many colours together while painting?
If you mix many different paint colours together, especially the primary colours (red, blue, yellow), you will usually end up with a muddy brown or black colour. This happens because as you add more colours, they absorb more light, making the final mixture look very dark.
