blue–green distinction in language#Chinese

The word for blue in the Amazigh (Berber) language is {{lang|ber|azerwal}}. In some dialects of Amazigh, like Shilha or Kabyle, the word {{lang|ber|azegzaw}} is used for both green and blue. It is likely cognate with the English word azure, which represents the colour between blue and cyan.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The color of the sky is sometimes referred to as "the green" in some dialects of Classical Arabic poetry, in which it is {{Transliteration|ar|al-khaḍrā{{'}}}} ({{lang|ar|الخضراء}}). In Arabic the word for blue is {{Transliteration|ar|azraq}} ({{lang|ar|أزرق}}). The Arabic word for green is {{Transliteration|ar|akhḍar}} ({{lang|ar|أخضر}}).

In Moroccan Arabic, the word for light blue is {{Transliteration|ary|šíbi}}, whereas {{Transliteration|ary|zraq}} ({{lang|ary|زرق}}) stands for blue and {{Transliteration|ary|khḍar}} ({{lang|ary|خضر}}) for green. The word {{Transliteration|ary|zrag}} ({{lang|ary|زرڭ}}) is used to describe the color of a suffocated person, and is also used pejoratively as a synonym to "dumb, stupid".{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The ancient Egyptian word wadjet covered the range of blue, blue-green, and green. It was the name of a goddess, the patroness of Lower Egypt, represented as a cobra called Wadjet, "the green one", or as the Eye of Horus, also called by the same name. At the same time, wedjet was the word used for Egyptian blue in faience ceramics.

In Hebrew, the word {{lang|he|כחול}} ({{IPA|he|kaˈχol|pron}}) means blue, while {{lang|he|ירוק}} ({{IPA|he|jaˈʁok|}}) means green and has the same root, {{lang|he|י־ר־ק}} (j-r-q), as the word for "vegetables" ({{lang|he|ירקות}}, {{IPA|he|jeʁaˈkot|}}). However, in classical Hebrew, {{lang|he|ירוק}} can mean both green and yellow, giving rise to such expressions as {{lang|he|ירוק כרישה}} 'leek green' (Tiberian Hebrew {{IPA|he|jɔːˈroːq kəriː'ʃɔː|}}) to specify green to the exclusion of yellow. Like Russian and Italian, Hebrew has a separate name for light blue ({{lang|he|תכלת}}, {{Transliteration|he|tekhelet}})—the color of the sky and of tzitzit on the tallit, a ritual garment. This color has special symbolic significance in both Judaism and Jewish culture.{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/530127/jewish/Techelet-Blue-Thread.htm |title=Techelet |website=chabad.org |publisher=Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center |location=Brooklyn, NY |access-date=2014-05-18}}

The Choctaw language has two words, {{lang|cho|okchʋko}} and {{lang|cho|okchʋmali}}, which have different meanings depending on the source. In 1852 {{lang|cho|okchakko}} is translated variously as pale blue or pale green, {{lang|cho|okchakko chohmi}} {{gloss|somewhat okchakko}} is given as swarthy, and {{lang|cho|okchamali}} is defined as deep blue, gray, green, or sky blue.{{cite book |last=Byington |first=Cyrus |year=1852 |title=An English and Choctaw Definer}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}} In 1880, {{lang|cho|okchakko}} and {{lang|cho|okchʋmali}} are both given as blue, and green is not specifically listed as a color.{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Allen |year=1880 |title=Choctaw in English Definition}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}} In an 1892 dictionary, {{lang|cho|okchamali}} is deep blue or green, {{lang|cho|okchakko}} is pale blue or bright green, and a third word {{lang|cho|kili̱koba}} is bright green (resembling a {{lang|cho|kili̱kki}}, a species of parrot).{{cite book |last=Watkins |first=Ben |year=1892 |title=Complete Choctaw Definer}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}} By 1915, the authoritative Byington dictionary gives {{lang|cho|okchako}} as blue and {{lang|cho|okchamali}} as green, blue, gray, verdant.{{cite book |last=Byington |first=Cyrus |year=1915 |title=A Dictionary of the Choctaw Language}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}} A coursebook from 2001 differentiates based on brightness, giving {{lang|cho|okchʋko}} as bright blue/green and {{lang|cho|okchʋmali}} as pale or dull blue/green.{{cite book|last1=Haag|first1=Marcia|last2=Willis|first2=Henry|title=Choctaw language and culture : Chahta Anumpa|date=2001|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|location=Norman, OK|isbn=978-0-8061-3339-3}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}} Modern usage in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma language school is to use {{lang|cho|okchʋko}} for blue and {{lang|cho|okchʋmali}} for green, with no distinction for brightness.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The language of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation at Akwesasne is at Stage VII on the Berlin–Kay Scale, and possesses distinct terms for a broad range of spectral and nonspectral colors such as {{lang|moh|oruía}} {{gloss|blue}}, {{lang|moh|óhute}} {{gloss|green}}, {{lang|moh|kahúji}} {{gloss|black}}, {{lang|moh|karákA}} {{gloss|white}}, and {{lang|moh|atakArókwa}} {{gloss|gray}}. According to one researcher, the Kanien'kehá:ka term for purple {{lang|moh|arihwawakunéha}}, which translates to {{gloss|bishop['s color]}}, a recent, post-Christianization coinage.{{cite journal |last=Frisch |first=Jack A. |title=Mohawk Color Terms |journal=Anthropological Linguistics |volume=14 |issue=8 |year=1972 |pages=306–310}} The way in which purple was categorized and referenced prior to the addition of the latter term is not clear.

In the Lakota language, the word {{lang|lkt|tȟó}} is used for both blue and green, though the word {{lang|lkt|tȟózi}} (a mixture of the words {{lang|lkt|tȟó}} {{gloss|blue (green)}}, and {{lang|lkt|zí}} {{gloss|yellow}}) has become common ({{lang|lkt|zítȟo}} can also be used). This is in line with common practice of using {{lang|lkt|zíša/šázi}} for orange ({{lang|lkt|šá}} meaning {{gloss|red}}), and {{lang|lkt|šátȟo/tȟóša}} for {{gloss|purple/violet}}.{{cite book |last=Ullrich |first=Jan |year=2008 |title=New Lakota Dictionary |publisher=Lakota Language Consortium |isbn=978-0-9761082-9-0}}

Mapudungun, spoken by indigenous peoples of Chile and Argentina, distinguishes between {{lang|arn|kurü}} {{gloss|black}}, {{lang|arn|kallfü}} {{gloss|blue}} and {{lang|arn|karü}} {{gloss|green, raw, immature}}. The word {{lang|arn|payne}} was formerly used to refer to a sky blue, and also refers to the bluish color of stones.{{cite book |title=Mapudungun. El habla mapuche|last=Zúñiga|first=Fernando|author-link=Fernando Zúñiga|publisher=Centro de Estudios Públicos|location=Santiago|pages=43–47|year=2006|isbn=956-7015-40-6}}

Single words for blue/green are also found in Mayan languages; for example, in the Yucatec Maya language, {{lang|yua|yax}} is {{gloss|blue/green}}.

Tupian languages did not originally differ between the two colors, though they may now as a result of interference of Spanish (in the case of Guaraní) or Portuguese (in the case of Nheengatu). The Tupi word {{lang|tpn|oby}} {{IPA|/ɔˈβɨ/}} meant both, as does the Guaraní {{lang|gn|hovy}} {{IPA|/hɔʋɨ/}}. In modern Tupi (Nheengatu) the word {{lang|yrl|suikiri}} can be used for green and {{lang|yrl|iakira/akira}} for blue. However, {{lang|yrl|iakira/akira}} also means immature, as in {{lang|yrl|pakua akira}} {{gloss|green banana/immature banana}}, and {{lang|yrl|suikiri}} can also mean blue. In modern Guarani, the word {{lang|gn|hovy}} is used for blue and {{lang|gn|hovy'û}} (which literally means "dark green/blue") is used for green. The word {{lang|gn|aky}}, which is cognate with Nheengatu {{lang|yrl|akira}}, also means {{gloss|green/immature}}.

The Yebamasa of the Rio Piraparana region in Vaupés Department, southeastern Colombia, use the term {{lang|bsn|sumese}} for both blue and green in the Barasana-Eduria language.Fieldword Deltgen/Scheffer in 1977{{full citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Speakers of Tagalog most commonly use the Spanish loanwords for blue and green—{{lang|tl|asul}} (from Spanish {{lang|es|azul}}) and {{lang|tl|berde}} (from Spanish {{lang|tl|verde}}), respectively. Although these words are much more common in spoken use, Tagalog has native terms: {{lang|tl|bugháw}} for blue and {{lang|tl|lunti(án)}} for green, which are seen as archaic and more flowery. These are mostly confined to formal and academic writings, alongside artistic fields such literature, music, and poetry.

In Cebuano, another major Philippine language, the native words for "blue" and "green" end in the same syllable: {{lang|ceb|pughaw}} and {{lang|ceb|lunhaw}}, respectively. {{lang|ceb|Pughaw}} means sky blue, while {{lang|ceb|lunhaw}} is fresh leaf green (i.e., neither brownish nor yellowish).

Humor and jokes of a sexual or derogatory nature that would otherwise be described as "blue" in English (e.g., "blue comedy", "blue joke") are called "green" in Philippine English. This is a calque of the Hispanic term {{lang|es|chiste verde}}.

Modern Javanese has distinct words for blue {{lang|jv|biru}} and green {{lang|jv|ijo}}.{{cite book |first1=Stuart |last1=Robson |first2=Singgih |last2=Wibisono |title=Javanese English Dictionary |location=Hong Kong |publisher=Periplus |year=2002 |pages=97, 278}} These words are derived from Old Javanese {{lang|kaw|birū}} and {{lang|kaw|hijo}}.{{cite book |first=P.J. |last=Zoetmulder |others=With the collaboration of S.O. Robson |title=Old Javanese-English Dictionary |location=Leiden |publisher=KITLV |year=1982 |pages=246, 624}} However, in Old Javanese {{lang|kaw|birū}} could mean pale blue, grayish blue, greenish blue, or even turquoise, while {{lang|kaw|hijo}} which means green, could also mean the blue-green color of clear water. {{lang|kaw|Biru}} and {{lang|kaw|ijo}} in Modern Javanese are cognates of Malay/Indonesian {{lang|ms|biru}} and {{lang|ms|hijau}} which both have the same meaning.

Māori spoken before contact with Europeans did not distinguish between blue and green, using the word namu (e.g. in pounamu) for both, while words describing greenery in vegetation (e.g. ota, mata) or birds (kākāriki) were dominant in 19th century dictionaries. Descriptions of the new Anglocentric "blue" was developed in association with the sky (rangi; e.g. kikorangi and kahurangi), while darker hues are perceived closer to black like pako (variant of pango) and uriuri.{{cite journal |last1=Dodgson |first1=Neil |last2=Chen |first2=Victoria |last3=Zahido |first3=Meimuna |date=Nov 2024 |title=The colonisation of the colour pink: variation and change in Māori's colour lexicon |journal=Linguistics |volume=63 |issue=3 |pages=815–850 |doi=10.1515/ling-2023-0059|doi-access=free }}

The Kannada language distinguishes between blue ({{Transliteration|kn|neeli}} {{lang|kn|ನೀಲಿ}}), green ({{Transliteration|kn|hasiru}} {{lang|kn|ಹಸಿರು}}) and yellow ({{Transliteration|kn|haladi}} {{lang|kn|ಹಳದಿ}}). The prefix {{Transliteration|kn|kadu-}} ({{lang|kn|ಕಡು-}}) would indicate darker colors while the prefix {{Transliteration|kn|tili-}} ({{lang|kn|ತಿಳಿ-}}) would indicate light colors. Thus {{Transliteration|kn|kaduneeli}} ({{lang|kn|ಕಡುನೀಲಿ}}) would mean dark/deep blue, while {{Transliteration|kn|tilineeli}} ({{lang|kn|ತಿಳಿನೀಲಿ}}) would mean light blue.

The Tamil language distinguishes between the colors {{lang|ta|பச்சை}} {{Transliteration|ta|paccai}} {{gloss|green}}, {{lang|ta|நீலம்}} {{Transliteration|ta|nīlam}} {{gloss|blue}}, and {{lang|ta|கருப்பு}} {{Transliteration|ta|karuppu}} {{gloss|black}}. The prefix {{Transliteration|ta|karu-}} would indicate dark colors while the prefix {{Transliteration|ta|iḷam-}} would indicate light colors. Thus, {{lang|ta|கரும்பச்சை}} {{Transliteration|ta|karumpaccai}} would be dark green while {{lang|ta|இளம்பச்சை}} {{Transliteration|ta|ilampaccai}} would be light green

The Telugu language uses a single word, {{lang|te|పచ్చ}} {{Transliteration|te|pacca}}, for green and yellow. To differentiate between the two shades, another word is prefixed in some cases. For example, green will be called {{lang|te|ఆకుపచ్చ}} {{Transliteration|te|ākupacca}} {{gloss|leaf-{{Transliteration|te|pacca}}}} and yellow {{lang|te|పసుపుపచ్చ}} {{Transliteration|te|pasupupacca}} {{gloss|turmeric-{{Transliteration|te|pacca}}}}.

In Malayalam, there are distinct words for blue ({{Transliteration|ml|nīla}} {{lang|ml|നീല}}), green ({{Transliteration|ml|pacca}} {{lang|ml|പച്ച}}) and yellow ({{Transliteration|ml|mañña}} {{lang|ml|മഞ്ഞ}}).

The modern Standard Chinese language has the blue–green distinction ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|藍}}}} {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lán}} for blue and {{lang|zh|{{linktext|綠}}}} {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lǜ}} for green); however, another word that predates the modern vernacular, {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|青}}}}),Bogushevskaya, V. (2015) “GRUE in Chinese”. In{{cite book |title=Thinking colours: perception, translation and representation |date=2015 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publications |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |isbn=978-1-4438-7529-5}} is also used in many contexts. The character depicts the budding of a young plant and it could be understood as "verdant", but the word is used to describe colors ranging from light and yellowish green through deep blue all the way to black, as in {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|xuánqīng}} {{nowrap|({{lang|zh|{{linktext|玄青}}}}).}} For example, the flag of the Republic of China is referred to as {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng tiān, bái rì, mǎn dì hóng}} ({{lang|zh|青天，白日，滿地紅}}, {{gloss|A Blue Sky, White Sun, and Wholly Red Earth}}) whereas {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīngcài}} {{nowrap|({{lang|zh|{{linktext|青菜}}}})}} is the Chinese word for "green vegetable", referring to bok choy, and the opposing sides of the game liubo were known as {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} and white in antiquityThe manuscript Rules of Liubo {{nowrap|({{lang|zh|《六博棋谱》}}),}} discovered 2011 in the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun in Jiangxi. despite using black and white pieces. {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|Qīng}} was the traditional designation of both blue and green for much of the history of the Chinese language, while {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lán}} originally referred to the dye of the indigo plant.The {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|Shuowen Jiezi}} defines {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lán}} as 'grass for {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} dye': {{lang|zh|藍，染青艸也。}} However, {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lǜ}} as a particular 'shade' of {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} applied to cloth and clothingThe {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|Shuowen Jiezi}} defines {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|lǜ}} as 'cloth of yellowish {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} color': {{lang|zh|綠，帛青黃色也。}} has been attested since the Book of Odes (1000{{ndash}}600{{nbsp}}BC), as in the title of Ode 27 {{nowrap|({{lang|zh|《邶風·綠衣》}},}} "Green Upper Garment") in the Airs of Bei section. After the discarding of Classical Chinese in favor of modern vernacular Chinese, the modern terms for blue and green are now more commonly used than {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} as standalone color terms, although {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} is still part of many common noun phrases. The two forms can also be encountered combined as {{lang|zh|青藍}} and {{lang|zh|青綠}}, with {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} being used as an intensifier. In modern scientific contexts,{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}} refers to cyan as a narrow range of color in between blue and green, and the modern color names are used when referring to other shades of blue or of green.

The Japanese words {{nihongo krt||{{linktext|青}}|ao|extra=n.}} and {{nihongo krt||{{linktext|青い}}|aoi|extra=adj.}}, the same kanji character as the Chinese {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|qīng}}, can refer to either blue or green depending on the situation. Modern Japanese has a word for {{nihongo|green|{{linktext|緑}}|midori}}, but it is a relatively recent usage.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Ancient Japanese did not have this distinction: the word {{Transliteration|ja|midori}} came into use only in the Heian period and, at that time and for a long time thereafter, {{Transliteration|ja|midori}} was still considered a shade of {{Transliteration|ja|ao}}.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Educational materials distinguishing green and blue came into use only after World War II;{{cite news | url=http://www.empiricalzeal.com/2012/06/05/the-crayola-fication-of-the-world-how-we-gave-colors-names-and-it-messed-with-our-brains-part-i/ | title=The Crayola-fication of the World: How We Gave Colors Names and It Messed with our Brains | first=Aatish | last=Bhatia | website=Empirical Zeal | date=June 5, 2012 | access-date=July 12, 2018}} thus, even though most Japanese consider them to be green, the word {{Transliteration|ja|ao}} is still used to describe certain vegetables, apples, and vegetation. {{Transliteration|ja|Ao}} is also the word used to refer to the color on a traffic light that signals drivers to "go". However, most other objects—a green car, a green sweater, etc.—will generally be called {{Transliteration|ja|midori}}. Japanese people also sometimes use the word {{nihongo3||グリーン|gurīn}}, based on the English word "green", for colors. The language also has several other words meaning specific shades of green and blue.

The native Korean word {{lang|ko|푸르다}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|pureu-da}}) explicitly refers to blue, but can also mean either green, or bluish green. These adjectives {{lang|ko|푸르다}} are used for blue as in {{lang|ko|푸른 하늘}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|pureu-n haneul}} {{gloss|blue sky}}), or for green as in {{lang|ko|푸른 숲}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|pureu-n sup}} {{gloss|green forest}}). {{lang|ko|푸른}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|pureu-n}}) is a noun-modifying form. Another word {{lang|ko|파랗다}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|para-ta}}) usually means blue, but sometimes it also means green, as in {{lang|ko|파란 불}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|para-n bul}} {{gloss|green light of a traffic light}}). There are Sino-Korean expressions that refer to green and blue. {{lang|ko|초록}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|草綠}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|chorok}} adj./n.), {{lang|ko|초록색}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|草綠色}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|choroksaek}} n. or for short, {{lang|ko|녹색}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|綠色}} {{Transliteration|ko|RR|noksaek}} n.) is used for green. {{Transliteration|ko|RR|Cheong}} {{lang|ko|청}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|靑}}, another expression borrowed from Chinese ({{lang|zh|靑}}), is mostly used for blue, as in {{lang|ko|청바지}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|靑--}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|cheong-baji}} {{gloss|blue jeans}}) and {{Transliteration|ko|RR|Cheong Wa Dae}} ({{lang|ko|청와대}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|靑瓦臺}}), the Blue House, which is the former executive office and official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea, but is also used for green as well, as in {{lang|ko|청과물}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|靑果物}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|cheong-gwamul}} {{gloss|fruits and vegetables}}) and {{lang|ko|청포도}}/{{lang|ko-Hani|靑葡萄}} ({{Transliteration|ko|RR|cheong-podo}} {{gloss|green grape}}).

In Tibetan, {{lang|xct|སྔོན་པོ།}} (Wylie {{Transliteration|xct|sngon po}}) is the term traditionally given for the color of the sky and of grass.Yisun Zhang. "Bod rgya tshig mdzod chen mo". University of Virginia: Mi rigs dpe skrun khaṅ. (1993: 718) This term also falls into the general pattern of naming colors by appending the suffix {{Transliteration|xct|po}}, as in {{Transliteration|xct|mar po}} {{gloss|red}}, {{Transliteration|xct|ser po}} {{gloss|yellow}}, {{Transliteration|xct|nag po}} {{gloss|black}}, and {{Transliteration|xct|dkar po}} {{gloss|white}}. Conspicuously, the term for {{gloss|green}} is {{Transliteration|xct|ljang khu}}, likely related to {{Transliteration|xct|ljang bu}}, and defined as—"the grue (sngon po) sprout of wheat or barley".Yisun Zhang. "Bod rgya tshig mdzod chen mo". University of Virginia: Mi rigs dpe skrun khaṅ. (1993: 921)

Vietnamese used to colexify green and blue with the word {{lang|vi|xanh}}. This is a colloquial rendering of {{lang|vi|thanh}} {{lang|vi-Hani|靑}}, as with Chinese and Japanese. In modern usage, blue and green are dislexified. Shades of blue are specifically described as {{lang|vi|xanh da trời}} {{gloss|blue skin of sky}}, or {{lang|vi|xanh dương, xanh nước biển}}, {{gloss|blue of ocean}}. Green is described as {{lang|vi|xanh lá cây}} {{gloss|green leaves}}.

Vietnamese occasionally employs the terms {{lang|vi|xanh lam}} {{gloss|blue}} and {{lang|vi|xanh lục}} {{gloss|green}} in which the second syllables is derived from the Chinese: {{lang|zh|藍}} and {{lang|zh|綠}} respectively, sometimes skipping the syllable {{lang|vi|xanh}}, for blue and green, respectively, in formal or scientific speech. {{lang|vi|Xanh}} can also be used singularly for any color that is the shade in between blue and green inclusively.

Modern Mongolian makes a distinction between green ({{lang|mn|ногоон}}, {{translit|mn|nogoon}}) and blue, which has separate categories for light blue ({{lang|mn|цэнхэр}}, {{translit|mn|tsenher}}) and dark blue ({{lang|mn|хөх}}, {{translit|mn|höh}}). Historically, Mongolian included greens such as fresh grass in the {{translit|mn|höh}} category,{{Cite journal |last1=Purev |first1=Enkhjargal |last2=Tsend |first2=Oyunsuren |last3=Bazarjav |first3=Purevsuren |last4=Khishigsuren |first4=Temuulen |date=2023 |title=Color Terms in Mongolian Place Names: A Typological Perspective |journal=Вопросы Ономастики |script-journal=ru:Вопросы Ономастики |trans-journal=Problems of Onomastics |location=Ekaterinburg |publisher=Ural University Press |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=140–155 |doi=10.15826/vopr_onom.2023.20.1.008 |url=https://elar.urfu.ru/bitstream/10995/122532/1/vopon_2023_1_08.pdf |language=en}} and {{translit|mn|nogoon}} became a more common term in the modern era.

Albanian has two major words for "blue": {{lang|sq|kaltër}} refers to a light blue, such as that of the sky, but it is derived from Vulgar Latin {{lang|la|calthinus}}, itself derived from {{lang|la|caltha}}, a loan from Ancient Greek that meant "marigold" a small and in fact yellow flower.{{cite book |first=Vladimir |last=Orel |author-link=Vladimir Orel |year=2000 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |title=A Concise Historical Dictionary of the Albanian language |page=57}}{{cite book |first=Vladimir |last=Orel |year=1988 |publisher=Brill |pages=166–7 |title=Albanian Etymological Dictionary}} The other word, {{lang|sq|blu}}, refers to a darker shade of blue, and like many similar words across many European languages, derives ultimately from Germanic (see also: Italian {{lang|it|blu}}). There is a separate word for green, {{lang|sq|gjelbër}}, which derives from the Latin {{lang|la|galbinus}}, which originally meant "yellow" (cf. German {{lang|de|gelb}}); the original Latin word for green on the other hand, {{lang|la|viridis}} is the source of the Albanian word for "yellow", {{lang|sq|verdhë}}.{{cite book |first=Vladimir |last=Orel |year=2000 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |title=A Concise Historical Dictionary of the Albanian language |page=105}} Albanian also has a borrowed word for green, {{lang|sq|jeshil}}, from Turkish {{lang|tr|yeşil}}; it tends to be used for non-natural greens (such as traffic signals) in contrast to {{lang|sq|gjelbër}}.

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Latvian has separate words for green {{lang|lv|zaļš}} and blue {{lang|lv|zils}}. Both {{lang|lv|zils}} and {{lang|lv|zaļš}} stem from the same Proto-Indo-European word for yellow ({{lang|ine-x-proto|*ghel}}). Several other words in Latvian have been derived from these colors, namely grass is called {{lang|lv|zāle}} (from {{lang|lv|zaļš}}), while the name for iris is {{lang|lv|zīlīte}} (from {{lang|lv|zils}}).

The now archaic word {{lang|lv|mēļš}} was used to describe both dark blue and black (probably indicating that previously {{lang|lv|zils}} was used only for lighter shades of blue). For instance, blueberries are called {{lang|lv|mellenes}}.

In Latvian, black is {{lang|lv|melns}} (in some local dialects {{lang|lv|mells}}).

In Lithuanian, {{lang|lt|žalias}} is green, {{lang|lt|mėlynas}} is blue, and {{lang|lt|žilas}} is gray (hair) or grizzled.

Bulgarian, a South Slavic language, makes a clear distinction between blue ({{lang|bg|синьо}}, {{Transliteration|bg|sinyo}}), green ({{lang|bg|зелено}}, {{Transliteration|bg|zeleno}}), and black ({{lang|bg|черно}}, {{Transliteration|bg|cherno}}).

In the Polish language, blue ({{lang|pl|niebieski}}, from {{lang|pl|niebo}} {{gloss|sky}}) and green ({{lang|pl|zielony}}) are treated as separate colors. The word for sky blue or azure—{{lang|pl|błękitny}}—might be considered either a basic color or a shade of blue by different speakers. Similarly dark blue or navy blue ({{lang|pl|granatowy}}—deriving from the name of pomegranate ({{lang|pl|granat}}), some cultivars of which are dark purplish blue in color) can be considered by some speakers as a separate basic color. Black ({{lang|pl|czarny}}) is completely distinguished from blue. As in English, Polish distinguishes pink ({{lang|pl|różowy}}) from red ({{lang|pl|czerwony}}).

The word {{lang|pl|siwy}} means blue-gray in Polish (literally: "color of gray hair"). The word {{lang|pl|siny}} refers to violet-blue and is used to describe the color of bruises ({{lang|pl|siniaki}}), hematoma, and the blue skin discoloration that can result from moderate hypothermia.

Russian has several words referring to the range of colors denoted by the English term "blue". It traditionally treats light blue ({{lang|ru|голубой}}, {{Transliteration|ru|goluboy}}) as a separate color independent from plain or dark blue ({{lang|ru|синий}}, {{Transliteration|ru|siniy}}), with all seven "basic" colors of the spectrum (red–orange–yellow–green–{{lang|ru|голубой}}/{{Transliteration|ru|goluboy}} (sky blue, light azure, but does not equal cyan)–{{lang|ru|синий}}/{{Transliteration|ru|siniy}} ("true" deep blue, like synthetic ultramarine)–violet) while in English the light blues like azure and cyan are considered mere shades of "blue" and not different colors. The Russian word for "green" is {{lang|ru|зелёный}} {{Transliteration|ru|zielioniy}}. To better understand this, consider that English makes a similar distinction between "red" and light red (pink, which is considered a different color and not merely a kind of red), but such a distinction is unknown in several other languages; for example, both "red" ( {{lang|zh|紅}} {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|hóng}}, traditionally called {{lang|zh|赤}}), and "pink" ({{lang|zh-hant|粉紅}} {{Transliteration|cmn|Pinyin|fěn hóng}}, lit. "powder red") have traditionally been considered varieties of a single color in Chinese. The Russian language also distinguishes between red ({{lang|ru|красный}} {{Transliteration|ru|krasniy}}) and pink ({{lang|ru|розовый}} {{Transliteration|ru|rozoviy}}).

Similarly, English language descriptions of rainbows have often distinguished between blue or turquoise{{cite web | url = http://www.gmax.co.za/think/history/2004/040628-rainbowflag.html | title = What is the history of the rainbow flag? |publisher=Gmax.co.za | date = 2004-06-28|access-date=2015-04-17}} and indigo,{{cite web|url=http://www.eo.ucar.edu/rainbows/ |title=About Rainbows |publisher=Eo.ucar.edu |access-date=2015-04-17}} the latter of which is often described as dark blue or ultramarine.{{cite journal | journal = Littell's Living Age | volume = 145 | issue = 1869 | url = http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Littell's_Living_Age/Volume_145/Issue_1869/Definition_of_the_Color_Indigo | title = Definition of the Color Indigo | date = 1880-04-10}}

The Serbo-Croatian color system makes a distinction between blue, green and black:

• Blue: {{lang|sh|plava}} (indicates any blue) and {{lang|sh|modra}}; in the eastern speaking areas {{lang|sh|modra}} indicates dark blue, in some of the western areas it may indicate any blue
• Navy blue: {{lang|sh|teget}} (mainly in the eastern speaking areas)
• Ash blue: {{lang|sh|sinje}} (especially in Dalmatia to describe sea in stormy weather: {{lang|sh|sinje more}})
• Green: {{lang|sh|zelena}}
• Black: {{lang|sh|crna}}

{{lang|sh|Modra}} may also mean dark blue and dark purple that are used to describe colours of a bruise, {{lang|sh|modrica}}. Native speakers cannot pinpoint a color on the spectrum which would correspond to {{lang|sh|modra}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

{{lang|sh|Sinje}}, cognate to Bulgarian {{lang|bg|синьо}} {{Transliteration|bg|sinyo}} and Russian {{lang|ru|синий}} {{Transliteration|ru|siniy}}, is archaic; the term denotes blue-gray, usually used to describe dark seas.

Turquoise is usually described as {{lang|sh|tirkizna}}, and similarly, azure will use a loan word {{lang|sh|azurna}}. There is no specific word for cyan. Blond hair is called {{lang|sh|plava}} {{gloss|blue}}, reflecting likely the archaic use of {{lang|sh|plav}} for any bright white/blue colors (like the sky).

{{lang|sh|Mrko}} {{gloss|dusky}} can refer either dark brown, less often dark gray, or even black. It is etymologically derived from the word for {{gloss|darkness}} ({{lang|sh|mrak}}), but is distinct from {{gloss|dark}} ({{lang|sh|tamna}}). For instance, it is used to describe the brown bear ({{lang|sh|mrki medved/medvjed}}). {{lang|sh|Smeđe}} and {{lang|sh|kestenjasto}} refer to brown, {{lang|sh|crveno}} means red, {{lang|sh|ružičasto}} is for pink and {{lang|sh|narančasto}} designates orange.

Shades are defined with a prefix (e.g., {{lang|sh|tamno-}} for dark, or {{lang|sh|svetlo-/svijetlo-}} for light), for example, dark blue is {{lang|sh|tamnoplavo}}.

The Slovene language distinguishes among blue, green and black

• Blue: {{lang|sl|moder}} (officially) or {{lang|sl|plav}} (vernacular) is used for any blue. Sometimes {{lang|sl|sinj}} (adj. {{lang|sl|sinje}}) is also used to describe azure. The word {{lang|sl|akvamarin}} is sometimes used for navy-blue.
• Green: {{lang|sl|zelen}} is related to the word {{lang|sl|zel}}, which is derived from Proto-Slavic word {{lang|sla-x-proto|зель}}{{Cite web|url=https://fran.si/193/marko-snoj-slovenski-etimoloski-slovar/4293871/zl?FilteredDictionaryIds=193&View=1&Query=zel|title=Fran/Etimološki|website=Fran|language=sl|access-date=2019-11-17}} for "herb" – which in turn is believed to be derived from Proto-Indo-European word for "to shine", which also described light shades of colors (gold, yellow and green).
• Black: {{lang|sl|Črn}}

Although the blue and green color are not strictly defined, so Slovene speakers cannot point to a certain shade of blue or green, but rather the whole spectrum of blue and green shades, there is a distinction between light and dark hues of these colors, which is described with prefixes {{lang|sl|svetlo-}} (light) and {{lang|sl|temno-}} (dark).

Transient hues between blue and green are mostly described as {{lang|sl|zeleno moder}} or {{lang|sl|modro zelen}}, sometimes as {{lang|sl|turkizen}} (turquoise). Transient hues between green and yellow ({{lang|sl|rumena}}) are described as {{lang|sl|rumeno zelen}} or {{lang|sl|zeleno rumen}}.

File:Colours in Irish.png with Irish Gaelic colour terms, explaining that {{lang|ga|glas}} ("pale blue/grey/green") and {{lang|ga|gorm}} ("deep blue/grey/green") are distinguished based on intensity (luminosity) rather than hue. Similarly, {{lang|ga|buí}} refers not only to "yellow" and "gold", but pale browns as "buff beige" and "ochre", while {{lang|ga|dunn}} is for darker browns. {{lang|ga|Rua}} refers to red of hair (fox, robin), whereas {{lang|ga|dearg}} refers to red of blood and {{lang|ga|bándearg}} is "pale red". Then, {{lang|ga|Bán}}, {{lang|ga|fionn}}, {{lang|ga|geal}}, and {{lang|ga|liath}} all refer to varying degrees of brightness or "fairness" — without mapping clearly only the English "white" — against {{lang|ga|dubh}} for "dark" or "black".]]

The Welsh, Cornish, and Breton word {{lang|kw|glas}} is usually translated as 'blue'; however, it can also refer, variously, to the color of the sea, of grass, or of silver (cf. Ancient Greek {{lang|grc|γλαυκός}}). The word {{lang|cy|gwyrdd}} (a borrowing from Latin {{lang|la|viridis}}) is the standard translation for 'green'. In traditional Welsh (and related languages), {{lang|cy|glas}} could refer to certain shades of green and gray as well as blue, and {{lang|cy|llwyd}} could refer to various shades of gray and brown. Perhaps under the influence of English, Modern Welsh is trending toward the 11-color Western scheme, restricting {{lang|cy|glas}} to 'blue' and using {{lang|cy|gwyrdd}} for 'green', {{lang|cy|llwyd}} for 'gray' and {{lang|cy|brown}} for 'brown', respectively. However, the more traditional usage is still heard today in the Welsh word for 'grass' ({{lang|cy|glaswellt}} or {{lang|cy|gwelltglas}}), and in fossilized expressions such as {{lang|cy|caseg las}} 'gray mare', {{lang|cy|tir glas}} 'green land', {{lang|cy|papur llwyd}} 'brown paper' and even red for 'brown' in {{lang|cy|siwgwr coch}} 'brown sugar'.

In Modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic, the word for 'blue' is {{lang|gd|gorm}} (whence the name Cairngorm mountains derives) – a borrowing from the now obsolete Early Welsh word {{lang|cy|gwrm}} 'dark blue, dusky'. A relic of the original meaning 'dusky, dark brown' survives in the Irish term {{lang|ga|daoine gorma}} 'Black people'.

In Old and Middle Irish, like in Welsh, {{lang|sga|glas}} was a blanket term for colors ranging from green to blue to various shades of gray (e.g., the {{lang|sga|glas}} of a sword, the {{lang|sga|glas}} of stone). In Modern Irish, it has come to mean both various shades of green, with specific reference to plant hues, and gray (like the sea), respectively; shades of green not related to plants would be referred to in Modern Irish as {{lang|ga|uaine}} or {{lang|ga|uaithne}}, while {{lang|ga|liath}} is gray proper (like a stone).

Scottish Gaelic uses the term {{lang|gd|uaine}} for 'green'. However, the dividing line between it and {{lang|gd|gorm}} is somewhat different than between the English "green" and "blue", with {{lang|gd|uaine}} signifying a light green or yellow-green, and {{lang|gd|gorm}} extending from dark blue (what in English might be navy blue) to include the dark green or blue-green of vegetation. Grass, for instance, is {{lang|gd|gorm}}, rather than {{lang|gd|uaine}}. In addition, {{lang|gd|liath}} covers a range from light blue to light gray. However, the term for a green apple, such as a Granny Smith, would be {{lang|gd|ubhal glas}}.

The boundary between colors varies much more than the "focal point": e.g. an island known in Breton as {{lang|br|Enez c'hlas}} 'the blue island' is {{lang|fr|l'Île Verte}} 'the green island' in French, in both cases referring to the grayish-green color of its bushes, even though both languages distinguish green from blue.

The Romance terms for "green" (Catalan {{Wikt-lang|ca|verd}}, French {{Wikt-lang|fr|vert}}, Galician, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish {{linktext|verde}}) are all from Latin {{Wikt-lang|la|viridis}}. The terms for "blue", on the other hand, vary: Catalan {{Wikt-lang|ca|blau}}, Occitan {{Wikt-lang|oc|blau}}, French {{Wikt-lang|fr|bleu}} and Italian {{Wikt-lang|it|blu}} come from a Germanic root, whereas the Spanish, Galician and Portuguese azul is likely to come from Arabic. French bleu was in turn loaned into many other languages, including English. Latin itself did not have a word covering all shades of blue, which may help explain these borrowings. It did, however, recognise {{Wikt-lang|la|caeruleus}} (dark blue, sometimes greenish), and {{Wikt-lang|la|lividus}} (grayish blue, like lead).

French, as most Romance languages, makes roughly the same distinctions as English and has a specific term for each of blue ("{{Wikt-lang|fr|bleu}}"), green ("{{Wikt-lang|fr|vert}}") and gray ("{{Wikt-lang|fr|gris}}"). For all three, different shades can be indicated with different (compound) terms, none of them being considered as basic color terms: "bleu {{Wikt-lang|fr|clair}}" (light blue), "bleu {{Wikt-lang|fr|ciel}}" (sky blue), "bleu {{Wikt-lang|fr|marine}}" (Navy blue), "bleu {{Wikt-lang|fr|roi}}" (royal blue); "vert clair" (light green), "vert {{Wikt-lang|fr|pomme}}" (literally: apple green); "gris {{Wikt-lang|fr|anthracite}}" (deep gray), "gris {{Wikt-lang|fr|souris}}" (literally: "mouse gray"). French also uses "{{Wikt-lang|fr|azur}}" for the lighter shade of blue of the sunny sky, that was in turn loaned to English as "azure".

Catalan distinguishes blue ({{Wikt-lang|ca|blau}}) from green ({{Wikt-lang|ca|verd}}) and gray ({{Wikt-lang|ca|gris}}). Other basic or common colors by its own right are {{Wikt-lang|ca|porpra}} "purple", {{Wikt-lang|ca|groc}} "yellow", {{Wikt-lang|ca|carbassa}} or {{Wikt-lang|ca|taronja}} "orange", {{Wikt-lang|ca|vermell}} "red", {{Wikt-lang|ca|rosa}} "pink", {{Wikt-lang|ca|marró}} "brown", {{Wikt-lang|ca|gris}} "gray", {{Wikt-lang|ca|negre}} "black" and {{Wikt-lang|ca|blanc}} "white". For all these colors except black and white it is possible to indicate different shades using {{Wikt-lang|ca|clar}} "light" and {{Wikt-lang|ca|fosc}} "dark"; for blue, though, it generally is blau cel "sky blue" and blau marí "sea blue". Other words and compounds are common to indicate more elaborated shades (verd llimona "lemon green", rosa pàl·lid "pale pink", lila "lilac", granat "carmine", ocre "ocher", verd oliva "olive green", etc.). Catalan actually distinguishes two reds with different and common words: while {{Wikt-lang|ca|vermell}} refers to the color of blood, {{Wikt-lang|ca|roig}} is a red tending towards yellow or the color of clay.{{cite web|title=Bibiloni.cat|url=http://bibiloni.cat/ambbonesparaules/roig1.html|access-date=2016-01-23}}

Italian distinguishes blue ({{Wikt-lang|it|blu}}), green ({{Wikt-lang|it|verde}}) and gray ({{Wikt-lang|it|grigio}}). There are also common words for light blue (e.g. the color of the cloudless sky): {{Wikt-lang|it|azzurro}} and {{Wikt-lang|it|celeste}}, and other for darker shades, e.g. {{Wikt-lang|it|indaco}}, indigo. {{Wikt-lang|it|azzurro|Azzurro}}, the equivalent of the English azure, is usually considered a separate basic color rather than a shade of blu (similar to the distinction in English between red and pink). Some sources even go to the point of defining blu as a darker shade of azzurro.{{cite web|last=Gabrielli|first=Aldo|title=Grande Dizionario Italiano|url=http://dizionari.hoepli.it/Dizionario_Italiano/parola/blu.aspx?idD=1&Query=blu|access-date=2011-07-09}} Celeste literally means '(the color) of the sky' and can be used as synonym of azzurro, although it will more often be considered a less saturated hue.{{cite web|title=Dizionario Italiano – Celeste|url=http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_italiano/C/celeste_1.shtml|work=Sabatini Coletti – Dizionario Italiano|access-date=2011-07-09}}{{cite web|last=Gabrielli|first=Aldo|title=Grande Dizionario Italiano|url=http://www.grandidizionari.it/Dizionario_Italiano/parola/C/celeste_1.aspx?query=celeste+(1)|access-date=2017-02-06}} {{Wikt-lang|it|acquamarina}} (aquamarine) literally "sea water", indicates an even lighter, almost transparent, shade of blue. To indicate a mix of green and blue, Italians might say verde {{Wikt-lang|it|acqua}}, literally water green. The term {{Wikt-lang|it|glauco}}, not common in standard Italian and perceived as a literary term, is used in scientific contexts (esp. botany) to indicate a mix of blue, green and gray.{{cite web|title=Dizionario Italiano – Glauco|url=http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_italiano/G/glauco.shtml|work=Sabatini Coletti – Dizionario Italiano|access-date=2011-07-09}} Other similar terms are {{Wikt-lang|it|ceruleo}} and {{Wikt-lang|it|turchese}} (turquoise/teal); they are more saturated hues (especially turchese) and differ in context of use: the first is a literary or bureaucratic term (used for example to indicate light green eyes in identity cards); the second is more common in any informal speech, along with the variant turchino (for instance, the fairy of The Adventures of Pinocchio is called fata turchina).

In Portuguese, the word "{{Wikt-lang|pt|azul}}" means blue and the word "{{Wikt-lang|pt|verde}}" means green. Furthermore, "azul-{{Wikt-lang|pt|claro}}" means light-blue, and "azul-{{Wikt-lang|pt|escuro}}" means dark-blue. More distinctions can be made between several hues of blue. For instance, "azul-{{Wikt-lang|pt|celeste}}" means sky blue, "azul-{{Wikt-lang|pt|marinho}}" means navy-blue and "azul-{{Wikt-lang|pt|turquesa}}" means turquoise-blue. One can also make the distinction between "verde-claro" and "verde-escuro", meaning light and dark-green respectively, and more distinctions between several qualities of green: for instance, "verde-{{Wikt-lang|pt|oliva}}" means olive-green and "verde-{{Wikt-lang|pt|esmeralda}}" means emerald-green. Cyan is usually called "azul-celeste" (sky blue) and "verde-{{Wikt-lang|pt|água}}", meaning water green.

Romanian clearly distinguishes between the colors green ({{Wikt-lang|ro|verde}}) and blue ({{Wikt-lang|ro|albastru}}). It also uses separate words for different hues of the same color, e.g. light blue ({{Wikt-lang|ro|bleu}}), blue (albastru), dark-blue (bleu-{{Wikt-lang|ro|marin}} or {{Wikt-lang|ro|bleomarin}}), along with a word for turquoise ({{Wikt-lang|ro|turcoaz}}) and azure ({{Wikt-lang|ro|azur}} or {{Wikt-lang|ro|azuriu}}).

Similarly to French, Romanian, Italian and Portuguese, Spanish distinguishes blue ({{Wikt-lang|es|azul}}) and green ({{Wikt-lang|es|verde}}) and has an additional term for the tone of blue visible in the sky, namely "{{Wikt-lang|es|celeste}}", which is nonetheless considered a shade of blue.

In Old Norse, the word {{lang|non|{{linktext|blár}}}} {{gloss|blue}} (from proto-Germanic {{lang|gem-x-proto|{{linktext|blēwaz}}}}) was also used to describe black (and the common word for people of African descent was thus {{lang|non|{{linktext|blámenn}}}} {{gloss|blue/black men}}). In Swedish, {{lang|sv|{{linktext|blå}}}}, the modern word for blue, was used this way until the early 20th century, and it still is to a limited extent in modern Faroese.

German and Dutch distinguish blue (respectively {{lang|de|{{linktext|blau}}}} and {{lang|nl|{{linktext|blauw}}}}) and green ({{lang|de|{{linktext|grün}}}} and {{lang|nl|{{linktext|groen}}}}), very similarly to English. There are (compound) terms for light blue ({{lang|de|{{linktext|hellblau}}}} and {{lang|nl|{{linktext|lichtblauw}}}}) and darker shades of blue ({{lang|de|{{linktext|dunkelblau}}}} and {{lang|nl|{{linktext|donkerblauw}}}}). In addition, adjective forms of most traditional color names are inflected to match the corresponding noun's case and gender.

The words for "blue" and "green" completely changed in the transition from Ancient Greek to Modern Greek.

Ancient Greek had {{lang|grc|γλαυκός}} ({{Transliteration|grc|glaukós}}) "clear light blue" contrasting with {{lang|grc|χλωρός}} ({{Transliteration|grc|khlōrós}}) "bright green"; for darker shades of both colors, {{lang|grc|γλαυκός}} and {{lang|grc|χλωρός}} were replaced by {{lang|grc|κυανός}} ({{Transliteration|grc|kuanós}}), meaning either a "dark blue or green". The words had more than one modern meaning: in addition to "clear light blue", {{lang|grc|γλαυκός}} also meant "turquoise" and "teal-green" – it was the typical description of the color of the goddess Athena's eyes, portrayed as either gray or light blue. As well as "bright green", {{lang|grc|χλωρός}} was also used for "acid yellow" (compare "chlorophyll"). Furthermore, {{lang|grc|κυανός}} not only meant "turquoise" and "teal-green", but could mean either a "dark blue" or "dark green" or just "blue" (adopted into English as "cyan" for light sky-blue).

Those terms changed in Byzantine Greek as seen from the insignia colors of two of Constantinople's rival popular factions: {{lang|grc|Πράσινοι}} ({{Transliteration|grc|Prasinoi}}, "the Greens") and {{lang|grc|Bένετοι}} ({{Transliteration|grc|Venetoi}}, "the Blues"). It is not known if those groups' names influenced the word change or if they were named using the new color terms, but whichever way it went, {{lang|grc|πράσινος}} ({{Transliteration|grc|prásinos}}) is a Modern Greek word for "green".

The ancient term for blue ({{lang|grc|γλαυκός}}) has become an archaic term in Modern Greek, replaced by {{lang|el|γαλάζιος}} ({{Transliteration|el|galázios}}) or {{lang|el|θαλασσής}} ({{Transliteration|el|thalassís}}, "sea colored") for light blue / sea blue, and the recent indeclinable loan-word {{lang|el|μπλε}} ({{Transliteration|el|ble}}, from French {{lang|fr|bleu}}; {{lang|el|μπ}} = {{Transliteration|el|b}}) is used for blue.

In the Modern Greek language, there are names for light and dark blues and greens in addition to those discussed above:

As a rule, the first two words of the list are accepted as shades of blue, and the rest as shades of green. Also {{lang|el|βιολέ}} ({{Transliteration|el|violé}}) / {{lang|el|βιολετί}} ({{Transliteration|el|violetí}}) for violet blue (which is, however, usually considered as a shade of purple, rather than blue).

Ossetian has only one word for blue, light blue and green—{{lang|os|цъæх}} {{Transliteration|os|tsəh}}, which also means "gray" and "glaucous"—but it also has a separate word for green, {{lang|os|кæрдæгхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|kərdəghuɨz}}, literally "grassy" (from {{lang|os|кæрдæг}} {{gloss|grass}}). The latter derives from {{lang|os|кæрдын}} {{Transliteration|os|kərdɨn}} {{gloss|to mow}} (like in German {{lang|de|Heu}} ({{lang|de|hau}}) < {{lang|de|hauen}} {{gloss|to mow}}).

Ossetian also has separate words for the following colors:

• light blue: {{lang|os|æрвхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|ərvhuɨz}} from {{lang|os|æрвон}} {{gloss|sky}}
• glaucous: {{lang|os|бæлонхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|bəlonhuɨz}} from {{lang|os|бæлон}} {{gloss|pigeon}} (a calque from Russian, cf. {{lang|os|голубой}} {{gloss|light blue}} < {{lang|os|голубь}} {{gloss|pigeon}}); also {{lang|os|фæздæгхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|fəzdəghuɨz}} from {{Transliteration|os|fazdag}} {{gloss|smoke}}, from Old Persian {{lang|peo|*pazdaka-}}, cognate of Latin {{lang|la|pedis}} {{gloss|louse}}
• blue: {{lang|os|копрадзхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|kopradzhuɨz}}, from {{lang|os|копрадз}} {{Transliteration|os|kopradz}} - bluing for laundering, transliteration of Russian {{lang|ru|купорос}} {{Transliteration|ru|kuporos}} {{gloss|vitriol}} from Latin {{lang|la|cuprum}} {{gloss|copper}}
• gray: {{lang|os|фæныкхуыз}} {{Transliteration|os|fənykhuɨz}}, from {{lang|os|фæнык}} {{Transliteration|os|fənyk}} {{gloss|ashes}}, originating from Persian {{lang|peo|*pa(s)nu-ka}}, or Russian cognate {{lang|ru|песок}} {{Transliteration|ru|pesok}} {{gloss|sand}}

Pashto uses the word {{lang|ps-Latn|shīn}} to denote blue as well as green. {{lang|ps-Latn|Shinkay}}, a word derived from {{lang|ps-Latn|shīn}}, means 'greenery' but {{lang|ps-Latn|shīn āsmān}} means 'blue sky'. One way to disambiguate is to ask "{{lang|ps-Latn|Shīn}} like the sky? Or {{lang|ps-Latn|shīn}} like plants?" (Blue and green are however distinguished using different words in the eastern parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, due to contact with other languages.)

Kurdish has two words for 'blue', namely شین şîn and کەوی kewî. Another word, şinahî, means 'green', e.g. for plants and grass.

Persian words for blue include {{lang|fa|آبی}} {{Transliteration|fa|ābi}} (literally the color of water, from {{Transliteration|fa|āb}} {{gloss|water}}), for blue generally; {{lang|fa|نیلی}} {{Transliteration|fa|nili}} (from {{Transliteration|fa|nil}}, 'indigo dye'), for deeper shades of blue such as the color of rain clouds; {{lang|fa|فیروزه}} {{Transliteration|fa|fayruzeh}} 'turquoise stone', used to describe the color of blue eyes; {{lang|fa|لاجوردی}} {{Transliteration|fa|lājvardi}} or {{lang|fa|لاژوردی}} {{Transliteration|fa|lāzhvardi}} 'lapis lazuli color', source of the words lazuli and azure; {{lang|fa|نیلوفری}} {{Transliteration|fa|nilufari}} 'water lily color'; and {{lang|fa|کبود}} {{Transliteration|fa|kabud}}, an old literary word for 'blue'.

The Persian word for green is {{lang|fa|سبز}} {{Transliteration|fa|sabz}}. As in Sudan, dark-skinned people may be described as "green".

The color of the sky is variously described in Persian poetry using the words {{Transliteration|fa|sabz}}, {{Transliteration|fa|fayruzeh}}, {{Transliteration|fa|nil}}, {{Transliteration|fa|lājvardi}}, or {{Transliteration|fa|nilufari}}— literally "green", "indigo", "turquoise", "azure" or "the color of water lilies". For example, {{Transliteration|fa|sabz-ākhor}} "green stable", {{Transliteration|fa|sabz-āshyāneh}} "green ceiling", {{Transliteration|fa|sabz-ayvān}} "green balcony", and {{Transliteration|fa|sabz-tā'us}} "green peacock" are poetic epithets for the sky—in addition to similar compounds using the words for blue, e.g., {{Transliteration|fa|lājvardi-saqf}} "lapis lazuli-colored roof" or {{Transliteration|fa|fayruzeh-tasht}} "turquoise bowl". Moreover, the words for green of Arabic origin {{lang|fa|اخضر}} {{Transliteration|fa|akhzar}} and {{lang|fa|خضرا}} {{Transliteration|fa|khazrā}} are used for epithets of the sky or heaven, such as {{Transliteration|fa|charkh-e akhzar}} "green wheel".{{cite encyclopedia |author-link=F. Steingass |last=Steingass |first=F. |dictionary=A Comprehensive Persian-English Dictionary |entry={{lang|fa|سبز}}}}

Chinalbashe (an unclassified Indo-Aryan language) & Chambyali (a Western Pahari language) have the same term for blue & green, i.e., Takri: {{Lang|cdh|𑚝𑚯𑚥𑚭}} ISO: {{Transliteration|cih|ISO|nīlā}}.{{Cite book|title=PLSI Languages of Himachal Pradesh|publisher=Orient BlackSwan}}{{Cite book|title=A Descriptive Grammar & Vocabulary of Chinali|publisher=Himachal Pradesh Academy of Arts, Culture & Languages (HPAACL)}}

Other Indo-Aryan languages distinguish blue from green. In Urdu, blue is {{lang|ur|نیلا}} {{Transliteration|ur|nīlā}} and green is {{lang|ur|سبز}} {{Transliteration|ur|sabz}}. There are some names of shades of blue as well, like {{lang|ur|فیروزی}} {{Transliteration|ur|ferozī}} {{gloss|turquoise}}.

In Hindi, blue is {{lang|hi|नीला}} {{Transliteration|hi|nīlā}} and green is {{lang|hi|हरा}} {{Transliteration|hi|harā}}. In Marathi, blue is {{lang|mr|निळा}} {{Transliteration|mr|niḽā}} and green is {{lang|mr|हिरवा}} {{Transliteration|mr|hiravā}}. In Bengali, blue is {{lang|bn|নীল}} {{Transliteration|bn|nīl}} and green is {{lang|bn|সবুজ}} {{Transliteration|bn|sabuj}}.

In Yoruba, there are only three fundamental terms for colors, one of them, the word {{lang|yo|dúdú}}, is used for the word black and colors such as blue, green, purple, and grey. In modern times, unique terms for the colors are formed based on descriptive markers or English loan words, {{lang|yo|àwọ̀ ewé}} {{gloss|color of the leaves}} is used for green, while {{lang|yo|búlùú}} (from English "blue") or {{lang|yo|àwọ̀ aró}} {{gloss|color of dye}}, is used for blue.

Zulu and Xhosa use the word -luhlaza for blue/green; the prefix changes according to the class of noun. Speakers of the two mutually intelligible languages can add a descriptive word after the colour term to differentiate between the two colours; for example "(lu)hlaza okwesibhakabhaka" meaning 'like the sky' or (lu)hlaza okwotshani meaning 'like grass'.

The Swahili word for blue is {{lang|sw|buluu}}, which is derived directly from English and has been in the language for a relatively short time. For other colors, Swahili uses either {{lang|sw|rangi ya ___}} {{gloss|the color of ___}} or a shortened version, {{lang|sw|-a ___}}. For example, green is {{lang|sw|rangi ya kijani}} or {{lang|sw|rangi ya majani}} {{gloss|the color of grass/leaves}}. Sky blue is {{lang|sw|rangi ya samawati}} {{gloss|the color of the sky}} from the Arabic word for sky {{lang|ar|سَمَاء}} {{Transliteration|ar|samāʔ}} (plural: {{lang|ar|سَمَاوَات}} {{Transliteration|ar|samāwāt}}). These examples can be written as {{lang|sw|-a kijani}}, {{lang|sw|-a majani}}, {{lang|sw|-a samwati}}{{cite web |title=The Kamusi Project |url=http://kamusiproject.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722065436/http://kamusiproject.org/|archive-date=July 22, 2009}}

The Himba people use a single word for shades of green and blue: {{lang|hz|buru}}. They curiously have only three other color names; thus, their limited color perception has both aroused interest in anthropologists, who have studied this phenomenon.

Tswana uses the same word {{lang|tn|tala}} to refer to both blue and green. One has to deduce from the context and prior knowledge, of what is being talked about, to be able to pinpoint exactly the color in question.

In the language Tsakhur, not only are blue and green distinguished, but also turquoise.{{cite journal |last1=Davies |first1=Ian |last2=Sosenskaja |first2=Tat'jana |last3=Corbett |first3=Greville |title=Colours in Tsakhur: First account of the basic colour terms of a Nakh-Daghestanian language. |journal=Linguistic Typology |date=1999 |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=179–207 |doi=10.1515/lity.1999.3.2.179 |s2cid=122328236 |url=http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/44138/2/Colours%20in%20Tsakhur%5B1%5D.pdf |access-date=18 January 2021}}

In Eastern Arrernte, the words {{lang|aer|atherrke}} and {{lang|aer|atherrke-atherrke}} both can be used to refer to the colour green, including some shades of blue and yellow. Additionally, {{lang|aer|atherrke}} can also be used as a noun to refer to grass and other small plants.{{cite web | url=https://arrernte-angkentye.online/ECALL.html | title=Learners' Wordlist of Eastern & Central Arrernte }}

The Basque language has three native color words derived from {{lang|eu|ur}} {{gloss|water}}. {{lang|eu|Urdin}}, is nowadays used in most cases for blue. {{lang|eu|Ubel}} originally meant "flash flood" and, with respect to colors, refers to bruises. {{lang|eu|Begi ubela}} would be translated into English by "a black and blue eye". But in Basque, unlike English, {{lang|eu|ubel}} remains in use after the hit skin has lost its purple color and become pale, why this word is used for both "purple" in particular and "pale hue" in general. {{lang|eu|Uher}} originally meant "dirty", "still water", or "rusty"; it is used for gray or sienna tones, and more generally for dark colors. Green is usually expressed with the loan-word {{lang|eu|berde}} from Spanish {{lang|es|verde}}/French {{lang|fr|vert}}. The authenticity of the less common Basque terms for green {{lang|eu|(h)orlegi}} and {{lang|eu|musker}} is disputed.{{cite book |isbn=978-84-457-3034-8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022214536/http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/eu_mintzagai_bilduma_aurkezpen/es_aurkezp/adjuntos/06-Eusk_koloreak.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-22 |first=Txema |last=Preciado |url=http://www.euskara.euskadi.net/r59-738/es/contenidos/informacion/eu_mintzagai_bilduma_aurkezpen/es_aurkezp/adjuntos/06-Eusk_koloreak.pdf |title=Euskarak erakutsi koloreak ikusten |date=2009 |publisher=Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia = Servicio Central de Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco |via=Euskara.euskadi.net |access-date=2015-04-17 |language=eu}}

Finnish makes a distinction between {{lang|fi|vihreä}} {{gloss|green}} and {{lang|fi|sininen}} {{gloss|blue}}. Turquoise or teal ({{lang|fi|turkoosi}} or {{lang|fi|sinivihreä}}) is considered to be a separate, intermediate color between green and blue, and {{lang|fi|musta}} {{gloss|black}} is also differentiated from blue.

The name for blue, {{lang|fi|sininen}}, is shared with other Finnic languages. Cognates of the root are also found in the Mordvinic languages and it is thus dated even beyond the era of the Proto-Finnic language ({{circa}} 2000 years old). It appears similar to a word found in the Slavic languages (Russian {{lang|ru|синий}} {{Transliteration|ru|siniy}}), but there is no consensus that there would be a relationship (see Proto-Finnic *sini, Proto-Slavic *siňь). The word {{lang|fi|vihreä}} ({{lang|fi|viher-}}, archaic {{lang|fi|viheriä}}, {{lang|fi|viheriäinen}}) is related to {{lang|fi|vehreä}} {{gloss|verdant}} and {{lang|fi|vihanta}} {{gloss|green}}, and {{lang|fi|viha}} {{gloss|hate}}, originally {{gloss|poison}}. It is not shared with Estonian, in which it is {{lang|et|roheline}}, probably related with the Estonian word {{lang|et|rohi}} {{gloss|grass}}. However, the form {{lang|et|viha}} does have correspondences in related languages as far as Permic languages, where it means not only "poison" but "bile" or "green or yellow". It has been originally loaned from an Indo-Iranian protolanguage and is related to Latin {{lang|la|virus}} {{gloss|poison}}. Furthermore, the word {{lang|et|musta}} {{gloss|black}} is also of Finnic origin.

The differentiation of several colors by hue is at least Finnic (a major subgroup of Uralic) in origin. Before this, only red (punainen) was clearly distinguished by hue, with other colors described in terms of brightness (valkea vs. musta), using non-color adjectives for further specificity. Alternatively, it appears that the distinction between valkea and musta was in fact "clean, shining" vs. "dirty, murky". The original meaning of sini was possibly either "black/dark" or "green". Mauno Koski's theory is that dark colors of high saturation—both blue and green—would be sini, while shades of color with low saturation, such as dark brown or black, would be musta. Although it is theorized that originally vihreä was not a true color name and was used to describe plants only, the occurrence of vihreä or viha as a name of a color in several related languages shows that it was probably polysemic (meaning both "green" and "verdant") already in early Baltic-Finnic. However, whatever the case with these theories, differentiation of blue and green must be at least as old as the Baltic-Finnic languages.{{Cite thesis |last=Kivinen |first=Ilona |title=Värinnimitysten synty suomalais-ugrilaisissa kielissä, lähtökohtana 'musta' |date=January 2007 |access-date=October 2, 2011 |publisher=University of Helsinki |url=http://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/6067/varinnim.pdf?sequence=2 |hdl=10024/6067 |lang=fi |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306131349/http://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/6067/varinnim.pdf?sequence=2 |url-status=bot: unknown}}

Hungarian makes the distinction between green ({{lang|hu|zöld}}) and blue ({{lang|hu|kék}}), and also distinguishes black ({{lang|hu|fekete}}). Intermediate colors between green and blue are commonly referred to as {{lang|hu|zöldeskék}} (literally greenish-blue) or {{lang|hu|kékeszöld}} (bluish-green), but names for specific colors in this continuum—like turquoise ({{lang|hu|türkiz}})—also exist. Particular shades of a color can also have separate names, such as azure ({{lang|hu|azúr}}).

The Kazakh language, like many Turkic languages, distinguishes between {{lang|kk|kök}} for blue and {{lang|kk|jasyl}} for green. In Kazakh, many adjectival variations can be found referring to perceived gradations in saturation level of "blue", such as {{lang|kk|kögildir}}, {{lang|kk|kökshil}}, and {{lang|kk|kökboz}}, which respectively denominate the gradual decrease in the intensity, {{lang|kk|kökboz}} being often used as a color referent in its own right. {{lang|kk|Kök}} is occasionally used to denote green plants (e.g. {{lang|kk|kök shöp}}), but such usage is mostly confined to poetic utterances or certain localized dialects.

Before the standardization and mongolization of the Tuvan language, many centuries ago, Tuvans used the word {{lang|tyv|kök}} (from the Proto-Turkic kök – "blue/celestial") for both blue and green. To distinguish the color green from blue, they used to name it sug-kök – "water-blue", no matter how strange it may sound.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} Although note that {{lang|tyv|kök}} was used for green primarily, they used {{lang|tyv|sug-kök}} only if they needed to. Thus, blue was {{lang|tyv|kök}}, and green was {{lang|tyv|kök, sug-kök}}. However, the dark hues of both colors can be named similarly as {{lang|tyv|kök}} even nowadays.

Over time, due to the diversity of the country (Tuva being at the border of different major tribes, both Turkic and Mongol), the green color was named differently from one area to another. In some parts, Tuvans used {{lang|tyv|chazhyl}} ("green" in the majority of the Turkic languages), other parts used the Mongol {{lang|tyv|nogoon}}, the rest used the traditional {{lang|tyv|kök/sug-kok}}.

Under the influence of the Mongol Empire and due to the need to standardize the language at the beginning of the 20th century, the word green became {{lang|tyv|nogoon}} (from the Mongolian "green"). The linguists who were responsible for the standardization had to take into account two factors: the Mongolization of the language, and the lack of the word for green. They decided to use the Mongolian word for green because they wanted to implicate the Mongol legacy in the lexicon.

Hence today, in the standardized Tuvan language, blue and green are named differently, but it led to the following controversies:

• The problem with {{lang|tyv|nogoon}} is that it is purely symbolic, and not a natural thing.
• The color was named after a foreign non-Turkic word.
• Not choosing the obvious Turkic {{lang|tyv|chazhyl}}, which was already used in Western parts of Tuva.
• The new naming of the green color was done in the 20th century, which was subjectively recent. Also, the realization of the innovation was performed forcibly, also touching the previous point, by making the people to switch from {{lang|tyv|chazhyl}} to {{lang|tyv|nogoon}}.

Nowadays, the "Blue-green distinction" topic is quite forgotten, people are used to the usage of {{lang|tyv|nogoon}}. In general, Mongolisms in the lexicon of the Tuvan language are not considered unusual.

Turkish treats dark or navy blue ({{lang|tr|lacivert}}, from the same Persian root as English "azure" and "lapis lazuli") as a separate color from plain or light blue ({{lang|tr|mavi}}). {{lang|tr|Mavi}} is derived from the Arabic word {{lang|ar|مائي}} {{Transliteration|ar|māʼī}} {{gloss|like water}} ({{lang|ar|ماء}} {{Transliteration|ar|māʼ}} being the Arabic word for water) and {{lang|tr|lacivert}} is derived from Persian {{lang|fa|لاجورد}} {{Transliteration|fa|lājvard}} {{gloss|lapis lazuli}}, a semiprecious stone with the color of navy blue. In the pre-Islamic religion of the Turks, blue is the color that represented the east, as well as the zodiac sign Aquarius (the Water Bearer). A characteristic tone of blue, turquoise, was much used by the Turks for their traditional decorations and jewelry.

In traditional pre-Islamic Turkic culture, both blue and green were represented by the same name, {{lang|tr|gök}} {{gloss|sky}}.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The name is still in use in many rural areas. For instance, in many regions of Turkey, when mold is formed on cheese, the phenomenon is called {{lang|tr|göğermek}} {{gloss|turning into the color of sky ({{lang|tr|gök}})}}.

{{cmn|colwidth=30em|

• Azure (color)
• Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution
• Blue / Green / Teal
• Blue-green
• Color term
• Color of water
• Cyan
• Linguistic relativity and the color naming debate
• List of colors
• Qingniao
• Semantic field for the concept of the range of words
• Spring green
• Traditional colors of Japan
• Variations of blue
• Variations of green

}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

• [http://www.sussex.ac.uk/english/documents/lxwp23-08-edb.pdf Etymological Dictionary of Basque]
• {{cite journal | url = http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0002/pdf/ppp032.pdf | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20060610085822/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0002/pdf/ppp032.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2006-06-10 | title = Green... midori? ao? | first = Hitomi | last = Hirayama | publisher = Yomiuri Shimbun | journal = Pera Pera Penguin | volume = 32 | year = 1999 | access-date = 2006-05-20 }}

• {{URL|ismy.blue}}, a website that tests one's personal boundary between green and blue

{{Color topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue-green distinction in language}}

Category:Color in culture

Category:Color names

Category:Language comparison

Category:Lexicology