Colors play an important part in any language and culture, and Icelandic is no exception. Here’s how to describe some of the most common colors in Icelandic, complete with vocabulary definitions and example sentences to help you use these words in context.

Blár means blue in Icelandic, a color that is often associated with the vast and beautiful Icelandic skies and scenic coastlines.
Himinninn er svo fallegur og blár í dag. (The sky is so beautiful and blue today.)

Rauður is the Icelandic word for red, the color of fiery lava flows and the vibrant roofs dotting the landscape in Reykjavik.
Bíllinn þinn er mjög fallegur í rauðum lit. (Your car is very beautiful in red.)

Grænn translates to green, symbolic of Iceland’s lush moss that blankets lava fields and the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.
Grasið er svo grænt á sumrin. (The grass is so green in the summer.)

Gulur means yellow, a color often reminding one of the sunshine that graces Icelandic summers or the middle hue in the country’s flag.
Sólin skín svo björt og gul. (The sun shines so bright and yellow.)

Hvítur stands for white, synonymous with the glaciers and snow that Iceland is famous for, as well as the peaceful Icelandic sheep.
Það fellur hvítur snjór úti. (White snow is falling outside.)

Svartur translates to black, often used to describe the black sand beaches and the darkness of Icelandic winters.
Ég hef keypt mér nýjar svartar buxur. (I have bought new black trousers.)

Grár is the Icelandic term for gray, a color that often depicts the rocky landscapes and the ash from volcanic eruptions.
Höfin eru oft grá á litinn á Íslandi. (The oceans are often gray in color in Iceland.)

Bleikur stands for pink, a playful color that can paint the skies during the midnight sun in the Icelandic summer.
Ég vil bleikan blómvönd fyrir afmælið mitt. (I want a pink bouquet for my birthday.)

Appelsínugulur means orange, it’s a bright and cheerful color representing the occasional breathtaking sunsets or the flickering flames of a campfire.
Haustlögin eru svo falleg og appelsínugul. (The autumn leaves are so beautiful and orange.)

Fjólublár translates to purple, a regal color that can be seen in the blooming lupine fields that are a part of Iceland’s spring landscape.
Fjólubláar lúpínur prýða vegkantinn. (Purple lupines adorn the roadside.)

Remember that colors in Icelandic, like in many languages, can also be used metaphorically to describe emotions, qualities, and conditions. For instance, you might hear someone described as being “blár af kulda” (blue with cold) or “rauður í framan” (red in the face), illustrating the vibrant way in which Icelanders incorporate the spectrum of colors into their daily language. Whether you’re admiring the natural beauty of Iceland or simply describing something in your everyday life, these color words will add vividness to your Icelandic vocabulary.