بَنَفْسَجِيّ
banafsajiyy
The English word purple is translated into Arabic as بَنَفْسَجِيّ (banafsajiyy). Wiktionary also lists أُرْجُوَانِيّ (ʔurjuwāniyy).
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بَنَفْسَجِيّ | banafsajiyy |
| أُرْجُوَانِيّ | ʔurjuwāniyy |
Both primary forms are used to describe the color purple, either as a noun or an adjective.
What does it mean word for word?
The word بَنَفْسَجِيّ is derived from بَنَفْسَج, which means the violet flower. Thus, it literally means violet-like.
Which one should you use?
While both terms translate to purple, بَنَفْسَجِيّ specifically refers to a violet-toned purple. In contrast, أُرْجُوَانِيّ refers to a deeper, more reddish-purple or crimson-like shade.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Gulf States, بَنَفْسَجِيّ is used for purple. In the Levant region, the term برقوقي is used informally.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
banafsajiyy
Did you know?
- The word أُرْجُوَانِيّ is linked to the ancient 'Tyrian purple' dye, which was historically extracted from sea snails.
- The root of بَنَفْسَجِيّ is shared with the word for 'violet' in many other languages, as the term originally entered Arabic from Greek.
- If you use the word برقوقي in the Gulf region, people might think you are talking about 'plum' rather than the color 'purple'.
Examples in context
- هذا الفستان لونه بَنَفْسَجِيّ.Hadha al-fustan lawnuhu banafsajiy.This dress is purple.
Example conversation
Omar and Sara are looking at flowers in a shop.
- عمر Omarانظري إلى هذه الزهور، لونها بَنَفْسَجِيّ جميل.Unzuri ila hadhihi al-zuhur, lawnuha banafsajiy jamil.Look at these flowers, they are a beautiful purple.
- سارة Saraنعم، إنها رائعة جداً يا عمر.Na'am, innaha ra'ia jiddan ya Omar.Yes, they are very wonderful, Omar.
- عمر Omarهل تريدين شراء باقة بَنَفْسَجِيّة؟Hal turidina shira' baqa banafsajiyya?Do you want to buy a purple bouquet?
- سارة Saraنعم، هذا سيكون رائعاً.Na'am, hadha sayakunu ra'ia.Yes, that would be wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
