Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| кори́чневий | korýčnevyj |
| ка́рий | káryj |
| кашта́новий | kaštánovyj |
| бу́рий | búryj |
Ukrainian uses different words for brown depending on what is being described. Use кори́чневий for general descriptions of inanimate objects, while ка́рий is used specifically for dark brown eyes. For hair or certain wood tones, кашта́новий describes a chestnut brown. Finally, бу́рий is often used for the color of animals, such as bears or natural elements like earth.
Which one should you use?
кори́чневий is the standard and most versatile adjective for the color. ка́рий is specialized for dark brown eyes. кашта́новий refers to a chestnut brown, often for hair. бу́рий is used for dusky or brown tones in animals and soil.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adjectives in Ukrainian must agree with the gender of the noun they describe. For example, use кори́чнева for feminine singular nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
korýčnevyj
Did you know?
- The word кори́чневий is derived from кори́ця, which means 'cinnamon'.
- In Ukrainian folklore and nature descriptions, бу́рий is the essential word for the 'brown bear' бу́рий ведмідь, making it a word deeply tied to national wilderness identity.
- The word ка́рий is a linguistic relative of words used in other Slavic languages to describe 'dark' or 'black', rather than the 'brown' of soil or wood.
Examples in context
- Ця сукня має коричневе оздоблення.This dress has brown trim.
- Мій стіл з розкішним коричневим кольором.My table has a luxurious brown color.
- У тебе дуже гарні коричневі очі!You have beautiful brown eyes!
- Цей песик має м'яке коричневе хутро.This puppy has soft brown fur.
Example conversation
Olena and Oleksandr are looking at a new sofa in a store.
- Олена OlenaТи хочеш цей кори́чневий диван?Ty khochesh tsei korichnevyi dyvan?Do you want this brown sofa?
- Олександр OleksandrНі, він занадто темний.Ni, vin zanadto temnyi.No, it is too dark.
- Олена OlenaА як щодо того світло-кори́чневого?A yak shchodo toho svitlo-korichnevoho?How about that light brown one?
- Олександр OleksandrТак, цей нам підходить.Tak, tsei nam pidkhodyt.Yes, this one suits us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brown” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
