Colors can add a vibrant flair to our conversations, helping us describe objects, express moods, and share perceptions. In the Hebrew language, color words are not just descriptive but are also deeply rooted in culture and history. Here’s a tour through some basic colors in Hebrew and their applications.
אדום (Adom)
This word describes the color red. The root of this word, ד.מ (dm), is also the root for “blood,” which shares a similar reddish hue.
התפוח כל כך אדום שאפשר לחשוב שהוא דומדם.
(The apple is so red that one might think it’s blushing.)
צהוב (Tzahov)
The color yellow is depicted by this word in Hebrew. It’s a warm color like the sun, which is often associated with joy and liveliness.
הבננה כשהיא צהובה היא בשלה.
(When the banana is yellow, it is ripe.)
כחול (Kachol)
This is the Hebrew term for blue, a calm and serene color, reminiscent of the sky and the sea.
השמיים כל כך כחולים היום.
(The sky is so blue today.)
ירוק (Yarok)
Green in Hebrew is ירוק. It is the color of grass, trees, and is often associated with nature and growth.
העלים על העץ הפוך ירוקים באביב.
(The leaves on the tree turn green in the spring.)
שחור (Shachor)
This word means black. It’s often associated with elegance and sophistication, but it can also symbolize darkness or mourning.
החתול השחור הלך לאיבוד בלילה.
(The black cat got lost in the night.)
לבן (Lavan)
White is described in Hebrew as לבן. It’s connected with purity, cleanliness, and new beginnings.
השמלה הלבנה נקייה ויפה.
(The white dress is clean and beautiful.)
ורוד (Vah-rohd)
The color pink is ורוד in Hebrew and is often thought of as a gentle and romantic color.
השקיעה הייתה כל כך ורודה ושקטה.
(The sunset was so pink and tranquil.)
כתום (Kat-óm)
The word for orange in Hebrew is כתום, a color that combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.
התפוזים על השולחן נראים טעימים וכתומים.
(The oranges on the table look tasty and orange.)
סגול (Sagol)
It refers to the color purple in Hebrew, a color that can signify royalty, nobility, and spirituality.
הזריחה הביאה עימה גוונים סגולים ויפיפיים.
(The sunrise brought with it beautiful purple shades.)
חום (Chum)
Brown in Hebrew is חום. It’s the color of earth, wood, and often is associated with stability and comfort.
הדובים אוהבים להסתתר בין העצים החומים.
(Bears like to hide among the brown trees.)
זהב (Zahav)
Gold in Hebrew, זהב carries a connotation of luxury, wealth, and value.
צמיד הזהב זוהר תמיד באור השמש.
(The gold bracelet always shines in the sunlight.)
כסף (Kesef)
This word means silver, and it often symbolizes sleekness, modernity, and grace.
התכשיטים הכסף נוצצים בחלון הראווה.
(The silver jewelry sparkles in the display window.)
In Hebrew, colors are not just adjectives; they also carry gender and number agreement with the nouns they describe. For instance, “a green shirt” would be חולצה ירוקה (chultzah y’rokah) for a feminine noun, and חולצה ירוק (chultzah yarok) for a masculine noun. This attention to detail makes learning about colors in Hebrew not just an aesthetic endeavor, but also a grammatical one. Whether you’re planning to visit Israel, read Hebrew literature, or simply want to add some color to your language skills, knowing these words can help paint a vibrant picture of your experiences.
