Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| mor | /moɾ/ |
| erguvani | /eɾɡuvani/ (from spelling rules) |
Both mor and erguvani can be used as nouns to name the colour purple or as adjectives to describe objects. Mor is the general term for the colour, while erguvani refers more specifically to a reddish-purple or mauve shade.
Which one should you use?
Mor is the common, everyday word for purple. In contrast, erguvani is a more specific and formal term that often refers to a mauve or reddish-purple hue.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, speakers may use the phrase menekşe mavisi (violet blue) to describe certain shades of purple.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using mor as an adjective to describe a noun, it remains unchanged in gender or number and typically precedes the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of mor is /moɾ/. The 'm' sound is like the [m] in much, and the 'r' sound is like the [t] in the American English word atom.
Did you know?
- The word mor is used in the expression morarmak, which literally means 'to turn purple' but is the standard way to say 'to bruise'.
- If you see 'erguvani' in an old Ottoman text, it likely refers to the color of expensive silk dyes. In modern Turkish, it has transitioned from a specialized dye term to a more general descriptive shade.
- The term menekşe refers to the violet flower, but using it to describe a color can sometimes sound more poetic or literary than the everyday 'mor'. It is often used in song lyrics to evoke a sense of romance.
Examples in context
- Bu mor leke nedir?What's this purple stain?This sentence uses mor to ask about a purple stain.Tatoeba #4041169 by deyta, translation #3170527 by CK
- Mor havuç garip olurdu.Purple carrots would be strange.This sentence uses mor to describe a hypothetical purple carrot.Tatoeba #6033002 by deyta, translation #5728987 by CM
- Bu mor kazağı alacağım.I'm going to buy this purple sweater.This sentence uses mor to describe a purple sweater.Tatoeba #6874701 by soliloquist, translation #6660905 by CK
- Bugün mor bir elbise giydim.Today, I wore a purple dress.
- Arabam menekşe renginde.My car is the color of a violet flower.
- Bu çiçek pembe-mor karışımı.This flower is a mix of pink and purple.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Selin and Emre are looking at some art supplies.
- SelinBu boya mor mu?Is this paint purple?
- EmreEvet, bu mor boya.Yes, this is purple paint.
- SelinEmre, mor çok güzel bir renk.Emre, purple is a very beautiful color.
- EmreHaklısın, Selin.You are right, Selin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations and entries mor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
