color ruber
[ˈkɔ.ɫɔr ˈrʊ.bɛr]word by wordmasculine
The English phrase "red" is translated into Latin as color ruber.
color ruber refers to the color red as a noun.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ruber refers to the color red in general, rufus is specifically used to describe red hair or a reddish-brown complexion.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective ruber must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use rubra for feminine singular nouns and rubrum for neuter singular nouns. Other related adjective forms include rubeus and rufus, which both mean having red as its colour.
Did you know?
- The word color actually shares an ancient ancestor with the verb meaning 'to hide' or 'to conceal'.
- In Roman culture, the color red was often associated with power and status, as seen in the cloaks worn by generals and senators.
- The word ruber is related to the Ancient Greek word eruthros, which is the root of the modern English word 'erythrocyte'.
Examples in context
- Flores rubri sunt bellissimiRed flowers are beautiful
Example conversation
Claudia and Quintus are looking at a piece of fabric.
- ClaudiaQuid putas de hoc?What do you think of this?
- QuintusColor ruber est pulcher.The red color is beautiful.
- ClaudiaIta, idem puto.Yes, I think the same.
- QuintusTunc emamus hunc pannum.Then let us buy this cloth.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (color, ruber) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries color, ruber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
