castanho-avermelhado
The English word 'maroon' (the color) can be translated into Portuguese as castanho-avermelhado.
When describing a color that is brownish-red, use the adjective castanho-avermelhado. In a sports context, such as when discussing soccer teams, the term grená is also commonly used.
Meaning: color (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term castanho-avermelhado is a compound adjective: castanho means brown and avermelhado means reddish.
Which one should you use?
While castanho-avermelhado is a descriptive adjective for a brownish-red color, bordô is a more common noun or adjective used to refer to the specific deep wine-red color often associated with 'maroon' in English. If you are referring to the historical term for a maroon (a person or descendant of runaway slaves) rather than the color, the correct term is quilombola.
Related words
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the color term if you are actually referring to a runaway slave. In that historical context, you should use quilombola instead.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, castanho is used for brown eyes or hair, while marrom is used for objects like a table or a shoe.
- The word bordô is derived from the French word bordeaux, referring to the wine region in France.
- While castanho-avermelhado is technically correct, a Portuguese speaker might describe the color as cor de vinho or 'wine color' in casual conversation.
Examples in context
- O convite formal exigia o uso de roupas de vinho tinto.The formal invitation required dressing in maroon clothes.
- Ela adorou o vestido bordeaux que viu na loja.She loved the maroon dress she saw at the store.
- O quarto dele estava pintado em lindos tons de bordeaux.His room was painted in beautiful shades of maroon.
- O uniforme do time é principalmente grená e branco.The team's uniform is mostly maroon and white.
- Ela comprou um vestido castanho-avermelhado.She bought a maroon dress.
- O sofá é de um tom castanho-avermelhado.The sofa is a maroon shade.
- Eu prefiro o cabelo castanho-avermelhado.I prefer maroon hair.
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are looking at paint samples for a room.
- JulianaVocê gosta desta cor castanho-avermelhado?Do you like this maroon color?
- RodrigoAcho que é muito escura, Juliana.I think it is too dark, Juliana.
- JulianaMas combina com o tapete castanho-avermelhado.But it matches the maroon rug.
- RodrigoVocê tem razão, Rodrigo concorda.You are right, Rodrigo agrees.
