Purple / Purplish in Color

[Bobbert]

I have never heard anyone say the word “purple” or "purplish" in Spanish, so I looked it up in a dictionary, but there is more than one word.

What word is mostly used for the color “purple” in Mexico and/or in any Spanish-speaking country?

I'm going to paint the room purple.
morado, púrpura, or something else?

When I hear the word "morado," I think of a black eye - un ojo morado.


What word is mostly used to say “purplish.”

Her dress is purplish in color.
purpúreo, violáceo, or something else?

Any input is appreciated.

[poli]

Morado or color violeta are common.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

In Mexico, the most common word for "purple" is "morado".
- Traía una blusa morada.
- Sembré unas flores moradas.
- Mi color favorito es el morado.

In general, "violeta" or "púrpura" are words more often used to stress a certain hue of purple.
If I want a certain color for art materials, like paint, fabric, etc., I'm likely to use specific names for colors, like "busco una pintura púrpura" or "compré listón violeta".


As for "purplish", "violáceo" and "purpúreo" are definitely used in literary contexts. Nobody (around me) speaks like that in daily speech.

Some proposals:

In formal/neutral contexts:
- La fruta tiene un tono rojo casi morado.
- Vi unos calcetines de un color parecido al morado.

In less formal contexts:
- Su blusa era como morada.
- El atardecer tenía tonos medio azules, medio morados...

In a very informal context:
- Quiero que la pared quede con un color "moradoso".

[aleCcowaN]

violeta
púrpura = violeta rojizo más que rojo violáceo
morado = púrpura obscuro / púrpura amarronado

ojo morado
moretones / moraduras / cardenales

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violeta_(color)

[poli]

A friend of mine from Northern Colombia would laugh at if I used the word púrpura. It may refer to an illness in that part of the world

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by poli

A friend of mine from Northern Colombia would laugh at if I used the word púrpura. It may refer to an illness in that part of the world

Púrpura is part of the Spanish name of many ailments, and in fact the English word purpura refers to some of them, like "our" púrpura trombocitopénica, which I understand was one of the symptoms late Queen Elizabeth experienced during her last days.

[Bobbert]

Thank you for your input poli, AngelicaDeAlquezar, and aleCcowaN.