Colors in Korean: all 15 words
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 빨간색 | ppalgansaek | red | |
| 주황색 | juhwangsaek | orange | |
| 노란색 | noransaek | yellow | |
| 초록색 | choroksaek | green | |
| 파란색 | paransaek | blue | |
| 남색 | namsaek | navy blue | |
| 보라색 | borasaek | purple | |
| 분홍색 | bunhongsaek | pink | |
| 하얀색 | hayansaek | white | |
| 검은색 | geomeunsaek | black | |
| 회색 | hoesaek | gray | |
| 갈색 | galsaek | brown | |
| 하늘색 | haneulsaek | sky blue하늘 = sky | |
| 금색 | geumsaek | gold | |
| 은색 | eunsaek | silver |
Good to know
Most Korean color words end in 색 (saek), "color". 빨간색 is literally "red color". When the color describes a noun, Koreans often drop 색 and use the adjective form: 빨간 사과 is "a red apple", and 파란 하늘 is "a blue sky".
Two colors have a common second form. White can be 하얀색 or 흰색, and black can be 검은색 or 까만색; the quiz accepts both. The traditional Korean five colors, obangsaek, are blue, red, yellow, white and black, and you will see them on hanbok, temple roofs and bibimbap.
Want to practice typing these words? Play Hangul Rain with the colors words.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 파란색 and 초록색?
파란색 is blue and 초록색 is green. Older Korean used 푸르다 for both, so you may hear a green traffic light called 파란불, a blue light.
How do I say "my favorite color is blue" in Korean?
제가 제일 좋아하는 색은 파란색이에요. A shorter version is 저는 파란색을 좋아해요, "I like blue".
Romanization: Revised Romanization of Korean, with sound changes. Audio: a recorded native-sounding Korean voice.
Last checked: 2026-10-20