couleur or
In French, "colour gold" is translated as couleur or.
The phrase couleur or refers specifically to the yellow-orange color that resembles the appearance of the precious metal gold.
Which one should you use?
Use couleur or when you are referring to the specific color of the metal. In contrast, the adjective doré is used to describe something that has a golden appearance or a golden hue.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used in this context, the word or is an invariable adjective of color. This means it does not change to agree with the gender or number of the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- There is a hidden connection between the color of gold and the morning. The word or shares an ancient root with the concept of 'dawn', as both stem from a word meaning 'to glow'.
- The word or is a homonym in French, meaning it can refer to the precious metal or serve as a conjunction meaning 'now' or 'yet'.
- If you are describing the appetizing golden-brown crust of fried potatoes, you would not use couleur or. Instead, you would use the adjective doré to say pommes de terre dorées.
Examples in context
- Cette robe est de couleur orThis dress is gold in color.
- Ces boucles d'oreilles sont jaune d'orThese earrings are golden yellow.
- Ces boucles d'oreilles sont doréesThese earrings are gold-colored
- plus doré queMore gold than
- Cette robe est plus dorée que celle-ciThis dress is more gold than this one
- J'aime beaucoup cette couleur or.I really like this gold color.
- Le cadre a une belle couleur or.The frame has a beautiful gold color.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are looking at paint samples for a room.
- ChloéQue penses-tu de cette couleur or ?What do you think of this gold colour?
- HugoC'est un peu trop brillant pour moi.It is a bit too shiny for me.
- ChloéVraiment ? Je trouve ça très élégant.Really? I find it very elegant.
- HugoJe préfère un jaune plus mat, Chloé.I prefer a more matte yellow, Chloé.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries couleur, or, CC BY-SA 4.0.
