It is striking that English color words come from many sources. Some of the more exotic ones, like “vermilion” and “chartreuse,” were borrowed from French, and are named after the color of a ...

From Abidji to English to Zapoteco, the perception and naming of color is remarkably consistent in the world's languages. Across cultures, people tend to classify hundreds of different chromatic ...

Don’t be red-faced next time someone asks you a question about English. We’re exploring words and phrases about colour – learn them all and your friends will be green with envy! In general, if we say ...

Claire Bowern receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Australian Research Council. She is Vice-President of the Endangered Language Fund. It is striking that English color words ...