Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 131

Colour-Related Idiomatic Expressions in English

and Kurdish
Najat O. Kareem Romi1
1 Department of English Language, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Koya University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

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ABSTRACT

Colour is a powerful communication tool and can convey different positive and negative messages. Apart from their
denotative meanings, colours have different connotations in different languages and cultures. Many of these
connotations are very clearly observed in their use of colour idiomatic expressions. This study explores the different
meanings and connotations of the basic colour terms and their usage in idiomatic expressions in English and Kurdish
to find out areas of similarity and difference between them. To this end data were collected from different English
dictionaries and from English idiom dictionaries; while for the Kurdish idiomatic expressions data were collected from
Kurdish idiom books (See methodology 4.1 &4.2). The findings obtained from the analysis of the data show that despite
similarities in the number of the basic colour terms and their general meanings and connotations in the two languages,
the symbolic use of the colour terms in idiomatic expressions is, to a great extent, culture and language specific.

KEY WORDS: Basic Colour Terms, Connotations, Colour-Related Idiomatic Expressions, Culture-Specific, Different
Languages
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1. INTRODUCTION

Everything around us has a certain colour or Colours also influence our physical and mental
certain colours. Our natural environment, the health and our emotions. Goethe, in his Theory of
clothes we wear, the food we eat, the furniture and Colour (1840), states that particular colours arouse
tools we use, are all colourful so that colour has particular feelings in us and that colours are a
dominated almost all aspects of our life. In this source of delight to people in general. He further
respect, Douma (1988, n.p.) states that: states that "the eye requires it as much as it requires
Color is a microconsciousness. Like our senses light" (Goethe, 1840, pp. 304-5).
of taste and smell, color helps us to understand the Similarly, Pathak (2012, p. 3) argues that "colours
world around us. While it gives us elementary for us are not just an important part of our visual
survival skills, color also enriches our lives, senses but share a deeper relationship with our
allowing us to appreciate everything from the brain and psychology than just helping us to
beauty of a rainbow, to the aesthetic pleasure of a identify objects". She mentions that different
painting. colours arouse different positive and negative

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)
Volume 2, Issue 1, 2019
Received 20 April 2018; Accepted 10 March 2019
Regular research paper: Published 25 May 2019
Corresponding author’s e-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Copyright ©2019 Lect. Najat Omar Kareem, This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License. - 0CC BY-NC-ND 4

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 132 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

emotions within us and affect the human shades and hues of these colours and finally, the
psychology in different ways. For example, she study deals with six of the basic colour terms
further adds, "colours can change actions, cause a namely (white, black, red, green, yellow and blue)
reaction, irritate or sooth the eyes and give rise to a based on the fact that these colours are richer in
whole lot of emotions within us". idiomatic expressions compared to the others in
Since the prehistoric era, humans have interacted both languages and Kurdish has no idiomatic
with colours so that every culture has attached expressions with orange, brown and pink.
different symbolic values and meanings to colours
and although colours often share universal 4. METHODOLOGY
associations, the perception and interpretation of
colours differ from one culture to another. This 4.1 Data Collection
difference has been clearly reflected in the
figurative use of colour in the different languages. Data on the English-colour related expressions
This study focuses on colour-related idiomatic have been collected from different English
expressions in English and Kurdish. English, as dictionaries2. As far as the Kurdish colour-related
identified by Berlin and Kay (1969), has eleven basic expressions are concerned, data have been
colours namely, red, yellow, green, blue, black, collected from sources on Kurdish idioms 3 .
white, gray, orange, brown, pink, and purple. The However, due to lack of sources on the subject in
same stock of basic colours is also found in Kurdish Kurdish, the researcher, being a native speaker of
(Berlin and kay, 1991, p.2). Kurdish, has mostly depended on her own
The study adopts a midway i.e. an eclectic intuition, background information and experience
approach between the Universalists' and the and on other experienced Kurdish informants4.
Relativists' views on colour (See section 5.3). As far
4.2 Data Organization and Analysis
as colour categorization and terminology are
concerned, the Universalists' view is applicable The organization of the data is done by giving a
since both English and Kurdish have the same stock general explanation of the meanings and
of basic colours with terms for each, while in terms connotations of each colour with examples of
of perception and symbolic meaning of these idiomatic expressions and their symbolic
colours, the study is an attempt to prove the meanings in English and the same is done for
Relativists' view which proposes that colour Kurdish. The analysis of the data has been done
perception and meanings are determined by the by comparing the general symbolic meanings of
native language and culture. each colour in both languages and then
comparing the idiomatic expressions for each
2. AIM OF THE STUDY colour to find out how similar or different they are
in meaning and form in the two languages and
The study attempts to verify the hypothesis that also to find out how frequently each colour is used
despite similarities in the number of the basic figuratively in each language. The idiomatic
colour terms and in their general meanings in expressions which have total or partial
English and Kurdish, the perception of colours equivalents in the two languages have been
and their symbolic use in idiomatic expressions in marked with asterisks.
the two languages are, to a great extent, culture
and language specific. 5. BACKGROUND

3. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 5.1 Colour Vision Theory

Almost all languages have some basic colour
This study is limited in several ways. Firstly, terms and the study of colour has a long history.
Kurdish language here is restricted to the Central According to He, the study of colour as a basic
Kurdish dialect1 (Sorani dialect) used in Kurdistan cognitive domain dates back to nearly 2500 years
Region/ Iraq. Secondly, it only deals with the basic ago (He, 2011, p. 1805).
colour terms in general rather than the different

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 133

The Greek philosophers were the first to start namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and
thinking about vision and colours. Their studies violet, while the other colours, as he suggested,
centred around two opposing views: the were derived from these seven colours (Zelanski
extramission or (extramittist) and the intromission and Fisher, 2005, pp. 6-7).
or (intromittist). The extramission theory A century later, Goethe started his experiments
emphasizes the active role of the eye i.e. colour with optical prisms, but while Newton looked at
vision occurs when the eyes send out rays of light colours from a physical point of view, Goethe
to an object, while the intromission theory looked at colours from a physiological point of
emphasizes the passive role of the eye i.e. colour view. He focused on the active role of the eye in
vision occurs when the objects send out light rays visual perception (Koelbing, 1988). Goethe
and these rays are received by the eyes (Crone, 1999, argued that colours resulted from interaction of
p.1; Swenson, 2010 p.29-30). For example, Plato light and darkness. He argued that light and
describes vision as "a combination of light from darkness were necessary to the production of
within i.e. from the eye and light without", while color and that "color itself is a degree of darkness".
Aristotle believed that vision was the "passive Goethe believed that there were only two pure
reception, by the eye, of an action originating in colours—blue and yellow, while the rest were
objects, thus, he was originator of the scientific mixtures or degrees of these two colours. (Goethe,
optics, as propounded 2000 years later by Newton" 1840, pp. xIii-xIiii).
(Koelbing, 1988, p. 176). The early theories of color were based on
The theory of vision and colours was further speculation. However, with more data available,
developed by two other Greek philosophers, the theories have been able to explain how the brain
Empedocles and Democritus. Empedocles (490–435 really perceives color (Domma, 2008). Two of these
BC) believed that everything was generated from theories that emerged in the 19th century were the
four elements: fire, water, air and earth and that trichromatic theory also known as Young-Helholtz
these elements were represented by the sun, the sea, theory [Reference to the authors Thomas Young
the sky and the earth, and that the colours and and Hermann von Helholtz], and the opponent
shapes came into being by mixing these four process theory. According to the trichromatic
elements. Empedocles was both an extramittist and theory of color vision, three receptors in the retina
intromittist. He compared the eyes to a lantern that are responsible for the perception of color. One
shot fire (extramission view); however, he also receptor is sensitive to the color green, another to
believed that objects produced reflections that were the color blue, and a third to the color red. The
received by the eyes (intromission view) and that combinations of these three colors produce all the
colours were produced when fire from the eye met colors that we are capable of perceiving. The
with the rays emitted by the objects. Democritus opponent process theory developed by Ewald
was an intromittist and believed that the visual Hering states that "our ability to perceive color is
world came to us and that vision occurred as a controlled by three receptor complexes with
result of the meeting between the image of the opposing actions. These three receptors complexes
outside object and the reflection from the eyes are the red-green complex, the blue-yellow
(Crone, 1999, p.2). complex, and the black-white complex". It further
The scientific study of colour began in the states that these cells can only detect the presence of
seventeenth century when Sir Isaac Newton (1642- one color at a time and that there are some color
1727) presented his optics on colour vision. By using combinations that people never see. For example,
a prism, Newton observed that white light while we often see greenish-blue or bluish-reds, we
consisted of all the colours of the rainbow and that do not see reddish-green or yellowish-blue because
the "colours that composed white light could not be the two colors oppose one another (Cherry, 2018,
further subdivided, but they could be recombined para 1&2). However, these theories could not be
to form white light". He concluded that "colour is proved until the introduction of three different cone
not the product of the external objects we see, but is photo pigments in the twentieth century (Wagner
a property of the eye itself" (Wagner and Kline, and Kline, 2000).
2002, para.6). Newton produced the first colour The above explanation shows that different
wheel which consisted of seven basic colours, scholars looked at colour vision from different

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 134 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

perspectives. Some scholars have made connections became a branch of linguistics in the late 19 th and
between colour and natural elements like the sky, early 20th century (Gage, 1999, p. 11). According to
the earth, water and fire, which may have, in later Wardaugh (1986, p. 226), colour terminology has
stages, led to the development of processes, which been used to find out the relationship between
has given colour vision the quality of being different languages and cultures and despite the
universal. These approaches have resulted in fact that the colour spectrum consists of one
different linguistic views on colour perception and physical continuum without any breaks, it has been
terminology. Among these views are two main divided into pieces and bits by different languages
opposing stands taken by the Relativists and the and different names have been given to these pieces
Universalists (See 5.3) e.g., green, blue, yellow, red, etc. He further adds
that direct translation of colour words from one
5.2 Colour Categories language to another can cause change in meaning.
According to De Bortoli and Maroto, (2001, p.3), Colour perception and terminology have been the
human beings are able to see over 7 million colours subject of a long-standing debate in cognitive
and that these colours are built from a stock of basic science. At one pole of this debate are the
colours. Based on their relation to each other, Relativists who argue that "our perception of the
colours are classified into the following categories: world is shaped by the semantic categories of our
1. Primary colours. Red, blue and yellow are the native language and that these categories vary
basis of all other shades, and cannot be created across languages with little constraint" (Regier and
by combining other colours. The combination Kay, 2009, p.1). This view is based on the Sapir-
of the three colours in equal amounts will Whorf hypothesis which proposes that "thoughts
produce black. and behavior are determined or are at least
2. Secondary Colours. These are the colours that influenced by the semantic categories of the native
are produced from mixing two primary language; therefore, people fail to perceive different
colours together. There are three secondary colours because of language limitations" (De
colours: violet (made up of red and blue); Bortoli& Maroto, 2011, p. 4).
orange (made up of red and yellow) and green At the other pole are the Universalists who argue
(made up of yellow and blue). that there is "a universal repertoire of thought and
3. Tertiary Colours. These are created by mixing perception that leaves its imprint on the languages
one primary with one secondary colour. There of the world" (Regier and Kay, 2009, p.1). Both
are six tertiary colours: saffron (red and views have their proponents and opponents.
orange); lime (yellow with green); lavender Palmer (1981, pp. 56-7) finds the relativists'
(blue with violet); purple (red with violet); arguments somehow unconvincing because, as he
amber (yellow with orange) and turquoise states, "if language classifies and categorises
(blue with green). experience, it must do so on the basis of some
The combination of white or black with the language-independent characteristic of that
above-mentioned colours produces tints and experience". He further argues that even if the
shades. The depth of a colour is called Tone. speakers of the different languages do not share the
Neutrals refer to subtle shades from the palest same picture of the universe, they must share some
colours (beige, cream), and are used to balance related characteristics; otherwise, he argues, we
vibrant or rich colours. Cold colours are those with would not be able to investigate other languages or
a high proportion of blue in their make-up, such as translate from one language to another. Thus, he
violet blue and some greens, and they have a rejects the idea of languages being completely
calming effect. Warm colours have more red and different.
yellow in their make-up. They are energizing (ibid). Among Universalist scholars, who challenged the
Relativists' view are Brent Berlin and Paul Kay,
5.3 The Linguistic Perspective on Colour who, in their 1969 study about basic colour terms,
Perception and Terminology introduced the universal theory which proposes
that "semantic universals do exist in the domain of
The study of colour-language which deals with colour vocabulary" and that these universals are
the relationship between language and perception evolutionary since they are related to the historical

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 135

development of all languages. (Berlin and Kay, She further states that Berlin and Kay have tried to
1991:1) They further state that despite the fact that apply the English colour naming and mapping to
languages may differ in the number of their basic other languages, which she finds inappropriate
colour terms, there exists a stock of eleven basic because, as stated by her, languages differ in the
colours from which languages draw their basic perception of colour and what is called blue in
colours. Their study was based on data, collected English may be called green in another language
from speakers of twenty different languages (ibid, p. 23). She also finds that Berlin and Kay
selected from a variety of language families. theory has disregarded the relations between the
Berlin and Kay suggested that the number and use world and language (ibid, p. 24).
of the basic colour terms in a language were Similarly, Lucy (1996, p.46) argues that the
universally restricted. They also proposed a fixed comparative work done on colour by Berlin and
order in which the number of these basic colours in Kay and their supporters and also by other
a language determines what those terms would be. subsequent scholars completely apply the western
According to their theory, if a language has two conception and lexicalization of colour. He further
colours, it will contain terms for black and white. If argues that these studies do not consider linguistic
it has three, there will be a term for red, if it has four differences and suggest that languages are only
or five there will be terms for green and yellow, if it reflection of reality.
has seven, there will be a term for blue and if it has Douma (2008, n.p.) supports Sounders's and
more than this, there will be terms for pink, purple, Lucy's view and states that "our vision is an active
orange and gray but not in a particular order. Based process, depending as much on the operations of
on their study, they were able to identify eleven the brain as on the external, physical, environment".
possible basic colour categories: white, black, red, On the other hand, Regier and Kay (2009, p.1)
green, yellow, blue, brown, purple, pink, orange, have come to a new conclusion about the
and gray. (Berlin& Kay, 1991, p. 2). Universalist-Relativist debate. They suggest that
The Berlin and Kay 1969 colour study was revised colour names affect colour perception " mainly in
by many subsequent scholars e.g. (Kay, 1975; Kay the right visual field, and less in the left" and that
and McDaniel, 1978; Kay and Kempton, 1984, and "colour naming in different languages reflects
Kay, Berlin and Merrifield, 1991 cited in Saunders universal tendencies but with a degree of native
1995, p. 21) but, as stated by Saunders (1995, p.21) language convention". Therefore, they believe that
none of these revisions has made any change in the Whorf or the Relativists are partly right in their
general outline of the original Berlin and Kay approach. Regier and Kay think that these findings
theory. may put an end to the current debate over language
Saunders (1995, p. 21) rejects the Berlin-Kay and thought in the field of colour (ibid).
approach and believes that their theory "has made Gage (1999, p. 21) considers the studies of colour
invisible the ethical, rhetorical and other to be incomplete because they have not looked at
sociohistorical processes with which it has created both the art and science of colour together, hence,
doctrine". And while the universalist scholars, Kay they have missed many important aspects of colour.
and McDaniel (1978, p.610) consider colour He also states that many scholars have only
perception as the outcome of "a set of considered 'the physiological processing of light by
neurophysiological processes" that constitute the the eye but have ignored the mind which
basis for the universal perception and apprehends it'. According to Gage, colour is "the
understanding the meaning of the basic colour attribute of visual experience that can be described
terms, and argue that their lexical categorization of as having quantitatively specifiable dimensions of
colour is a universal biological process, Sounders hue, saturation and brightness." and he considers
(1995, p. 21) thinks that the Berlin and Kay sequence colour as "a subjective outcome of an objective
of basic colour terms is "governed by a hierarchy of process" (ibid).
immanent techno-socio triggers which prompt the Based on what Regier and Kay (2009) and Gage
lexicalization of primitive concepts" and she argues (1999) say about colour, it can be concluded that in
that their study is not biologically based because, as order to have a comprehensive view on colour
she sees it, their idea about colour evolution is not perception, studies on colour should take a more
the one commonly used by biologists. (ibid, p. 33) holistic approach rather than looking at it from one

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 136 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

angle. This indicates that the Universalists and the climate, etc. For example, according to De Bortoli
Relativists have complementary rather than and Maroto (2001, p. 5), children prefer bright red
opposing views. The Universalists look at colour to express their anger and their desire to destroy,
from a biological perspective while the Relativists while black or the darkness of the night causes them
look at it from a linguistic perspective and unpleasant and sad feelings. With the passage of
combining the two will give a comprehensive time this violence of behavior disappears and the
picture about colour perception. colour choices change into softer ones. This process
continues and as people get old, they prefer subtle
5.4 Colour and culture colours i.e less bright colours (ibid, p. 6). As far as
Despite the universal interpretations of colour gender is concerned, colour choices differ between
terms, colours can have different meanings and men and women. In a study by Radeloff (1990, cited
interpretations to different people and cultures. in De Bortoli and Maroto, 2001, p. 5), it was found
This is so because as stated by He (2009, p. 160), the that men and women had almost similar
different national and cultural backgrounds, preferences with regard to light versus dark
including traditions, habits, life experiences, colours; however, in expressing their preference for
aesthetics, etc. produce different colour bright and soft colours, women preferred soft
connotations. Similarly, Pathak (2012, p. 8) believes colours while men preferred bright ones. Gage
that every society, culture and religion associates (1999, p. 33) mentions that there is a wide-spread
different colours with different ideas and concepts. believe about women being more discriminating in
She adds that "colour significance in different their use of colour than men and he links this to the
cultures is so deep rooted that it defines that object fact that colour deficiencies in women's vision are
or idea. Hence, a colour can be a very strong less as compared to men.
indicator of that idea, concept, object or occasion in Climate has also its effect on colour preference.
various cultures and religions" (Pathak, 2012, p. 8). According to a research by the psychologist E.R.
According to Foster (n.d., p.2), "connotations Jaensch (cited in De Bortoli and Maroto, 2001, p. 4),
depend on experience". For example, she suggests, people living in climates with a lot of sunshine
if whenever you go to a certain place, you are prefer warm bright colours; while those from
overcome with a feeling of sadness, you may climates with less sunlight prefer cooler, less
associate the colours in that place with sadness. She saturated colours (ibid). Colours also influence
adds that the predominant connotations in a certain marketing and products' desirability. James
culture are related to the collective experience and Mandle, a colour consultant, changed the colour of
traditions of the people of that culture. For Ty-d-Bol‟s toilet bowl cleanser bottle from light
example, she suggests, for the British people, the blue and green to stark white letters on a dark
colour green is associated with envy and jealousy, background to symbolize strength and cleanliness.
as in green with envy, while for people living in the In the 18 months that followed the sales jumped
desert, green can mean pastures where there is 40% (ibid, p. 8)
water, hence, it can be a symbol of life and hope. In the same way, Palmer (1981, p. 57) states that
According to NPTEL (2012, 6), cultural colour the "colour system is not solely based on the
associations can differ widely. For example, in the physical features of colour but is partly determined
west it is a tradition for brides to wear a white dress, by the cultural need, the need, for instance, of
in Anglo-American culture, wearing blue is also distinguishing living and dead bamboo, one green,
traditional, while in some Asia/Pacific countries, the other red". He further adds that colour words
brides wear red. In the west, people wear black for are not always used in their denoted meaning. For
funerals, while in India it is common to wear white. example, the colour of dried beans is green but not
In Western cultures, purple is often associated with referred to as green peas, while green is often used
royalty, but it is a colour of mourning in Thailand to mean unripe fruit. In the same way, white, when
(ibid). used in relation to coffee, is brown, it is yellow
On the other hand, colour perception and when relating to wine and it is pink when referring
preferences can be influenced by several cultural to people (ibid: 75).
and non-cultural factors including age, gender, As the above examples show, culture plays an
religion, lifestyle, fashion, health, politics, economy, important role in the perception and understanding

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 137

of the meaning of the different colours and lack of can be traced back to Old English hwit, which
awareness of the cultural significance of a particular contrasts with black and its association with evil
colour, may lead to misunderstanding and often to and immorality (Anderson and Bramwell, 2014, p.
offending a whole community. 146).
In general, white indicates light. It has positive
5.5 The idiomatic use of colours in language connotations like: purity, birth, cleanliness, sterility,
An idiom, according to the Oxford Advanced innocence, and peace (Kleynhans, 2007, 49).
Learner's Dictionary (8th ed. 2010), is "a group of Expressions indicating these connotations in
words whose meaning is different from the English are: *as white as a sheet/ as white as the
meaning of the individual words". Idiomatic driven snow meaning (very white, indication of
expressions are "expressions that are natural to the cleanliness and innocence); a *white dove is (a
native speakers of a language" (ibid). The use of symbol of peace); white hope refers to (a person
colour terms in idiomatic expressions is a very who is expected to bring success to a team,
common phenomenon in different languages and organization, etc.); whiter than white (of a person,
cultures. completely honest and morally good). He (2009,
The use of colours in combination with other 161) states that in English, white often stands for
words and according to their linguistic and cultural hope, peace, happiness and light as indicated by the
contexts helps to better realize their connotative idiom’s white day (a lucky day); days marked with
meanings. In this respect, Philip (2011, p. 26) states a white stone (the happy days of one’s life).
that "colours are imbued with a bewildering range Dunn, (2014, 5) states that white helps to empty
of connotative and associative meanings, and these the mind of bad thoughts and helps for fresh
are reflected in language in two principal ways: in beginnings and clarity of mind and it is the colour
fixed and semi-fixed phrases such as idioms and worn by doctors, matrons, caterers and all workers
metaphorical collocations, and in language play". of institutions where neatness is the watchword as
According to De Bortoli and Maroto (2001, p. 11), in a symbol of cleanliness. Brides traditionally wear
most languages colours are used to express moods white gowns as a sign of purity and virginity (ibid).
and feelings and in almost all languages there are An example of this is white wedding (a traditional
numerous colour-related idiomatic expressions, wedding, especially in a church, where the bride
which, in most cases, have no equivalents in other wears a white dress). According to Makarevicius
languages and translating them will result in loss of (2014), Jewish, Christian and Hindu religions use
their meaning. For example, the English idiom to feel the color white in rituals to indicate purity, chastity,
blue meaning (to feel sad) has no equivalent in other virginity and inner peace. He argues that the white
languages. Similarly, Salim and Mehawesh (2013, p. dove is associated with a state of perfection, peace,
107) argue that "color idiomatic expressions express and blessedness. And it is also the flag color used in
the uniqueness of the language and culture they hospitals and health care facilities throughout the
originated in". world (ibid).
English and Kurdish are both rich in the use of However, Kleynhans (2007, 49) states that white
colours in idiomatic expressions based on their also carries some negative connotations such as
cultures and their perception of colours. Below is an surrender, cover-up and perversion of justice. These
explanation of six of the basic colours (white, black, connotations can be indicated by the idioms *white
red, green, yellow and blue) with their symbolic flag (surrender); whitewash (an attempt to hide
meanings and examples of idiomatic expressions unpleasant things about somebody or something);
for each colour in each language. The expressions *white lie (a harmless or small lie especially one
with asterisks are the ones which have total or that you tell to avoid hurting somebody or to avoid
partial equivalents in the two languages. a bad situation to happen); white witch (a person
who does magic that does not hurt other people).
1. White: Spi Other negative meanings associated with white
In contrast to black, white is a symbol of moral as indicated by some idiomatic expressions are
and physical purity. To *whiten something is to cowardice and fear as in white feather (a timid or a
make it pure, and a morally pure person can be said coward person); as white as a ghost (very white
to be *white-hearted. This metaphorical association because of fear); *to go white/ to turn as white as a

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 138 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

sheet (to turn pale because of a shock, being people).

frightened or because of illness). White can also White face for women is a symbol of chastity and
indicate unpleasant sounds as in white noise virginity as in rût spi bi (May you keep a white face,
(a constant unpleasant noise), or it can be a meaning may you stay honest and chaste. Here
reference to an expensive but useless thing as white can be replaced by red to mean the same).
in white elephant (a thing that is useless and no White with red when used to describe a person
longer needed although it may have cost a lot of (male or female) indicates health and beauty as in
money). Also, white trash is a reference to (the poor sur u spi (literally meaning having red and white
white people especially those who live in southern complexion i.e. healthy and beautiful). White also
US). indicates good luck, new start, optimism and hard
White has also some neutral connotations as work as in bexit spi (having white luck i.e. having
in the following expressions:*white arms (cold good luck); heldanewey lapereyeki spi (to start a
weapons), White Christmas (a Christmas during white page i.e. to leave all the previous problems
which there is snow on the ground); white collar (a behind and have a new start. The English
person working in an office); White Hall (a street in equivalent is to turn a new page); parey spi bo roji
London where there are many government offices); reş (white coins for black days i.e. saving money for
The White House (The official home of the US emergency situations); çaw spi bûn (of one's eyes to
president at Washington DC); white knight (a turn white i.e. to become very tired trying to achieve
person or organization that rescues another something).White is also a symbol of honesty and
company from being bought by another company beauty as in *spi wek kaxez/ wek befir/wek kwarg/
at too low a price). wek penîr/ wek loke (as white as a sheet of paper/
In Kurdish, as the idiomatic expressions show, as snow/ as mushroom/ as cheese/ as cotton (of a
most of the connotations of white are positive and person's skin, very white, indication of beauty);
some of them are similar to the English ones (see the *nawdil spi (white-hearted, honest and kind-
ones with asterisks). For example, as in English and hearted); *spikirdnewe (to whiten something
other languages, *kotri spi (white dove) in Kurdish especially pots or dishes made of aluminum
is also a symbol of peace. White is one of the colours meaning to polish them); spibunewe (of the colour
of the flag of Kurdistan to symbolize peace, equality of cloth or clothes, to fade) dro spi kirdnewe
and freedom for all the different ethnicities and (literally meaning to whiten a lie i.e. to refute a lie,
religions who live in Kurdistan Region (Izadi, which means to say something to prove that what
2008). somebody has said is a lie or not true); spikirdin (to
In Islam white indicates purity, cleanliness, hope, make white, of fruit or vegetables to peel off the
spirituality; therefore, it is used in religious rituals. skin).
For example, most Muslim Kurdish women wear However, in Kurdish, white also carries some
white scarves especially when they pray and negative connotations such as disease, fear, lack of
pilgrims wear white Ihram clothing during Haj or ability to do any work. For example, *spi herman/
Umrah to indicate unity, equality and brotherhood. spi helgeran (to turn white i.e. to turn pale because
As in other cultures, white is worn by brides. of a shock, or because of being frightened or
Newborn babies are wrapped in white babygros, because of illness); dest u pe spi, (literally meaning
and dead bodies are wrapped in white shrouds having white hands and feet i.e. lacking experience
before being buried. and ability to do any work). Other Kurdish
White hair or beard is a symbol of experience and idiomatic expressions with white include: *droy spi
wisdom as indicated by rîş spi/ ser spi (having (white lie); *çeki spi (cold weapons); *alay spi
white beard/head (head here means hair i.e. a wise (white flag, a sign of surrender).
and experienced old man whom people consult and The English and Kurdish idiomatic expressions
take advice from); bisik spi/ ser spi (of a woman, with white show only few similarities (see the ones
having white locks of hair meaning an old woman with asterisks) and some of them are very culture
who is wise and experienced and whom people specific e.g. white Christmas, white collar, white knight,
consult and take advice from); dem spi (white- white elephant, etc. are related to English culture,
mouthed, a person who has very good speaking while the use of white hands and feet to indicate lack
and communication skills and is the mouthpiece of of experience or white mouthed to mean a person

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 139

with good communication skill, white face to people think badly about them); black look (a look
indicate virginity are related to Kurdish culture. showing anger and hatred); *black day (a very bad
day full of unpleasant events); black guard (a man
2. Black: Reş
who is dishonest and has no sense of what is right
In most cultures black carries negative and what is wrong); black spot (a place, situation or
connotations as compared to positive ones. event that is a problem or that causes a lot of
Anderson and Bramwell (2014, p. 144) see "a broad problems); *The pot calling the kettle black (a
metaphorical association between black and person who criticizes another for a fault he
badness or evil" while Chapman (2010) suggests himself/herself has); black mass (a ceremony in
that black is the strongest neutral color having both which people worship the devil); blackout (a
positive and negative connotations. Positively, it is situation when the government or the police will
associated with power, elegance, and formality. not allow any news or information about a subject
Negatively, as suggested by Chapman (2010), black to be given to the public); to be in a black mood (to
can be associated with evil, death, and mystery and be angry or in low spirits); to blacken somebody's
in many western countries, black is the traditional name or reputation (to say unpleasant things about
color of mourning and in some cultures, it indicates a person in order to give people a bad opinion of
rebellion. It is also associated with Halloween and that person); black leg (a person who continues to
the supernatural (ibid). He (2009:162) shares work while the other members are on strike);
Chapman's view and suggests that black has blackball (v) (to prevent somebody from joining a
positive and negative associations. Positively, it is club or a group by voting against them).
one of the favorite colours worn by the westerners In the field of business and economy, the
on serious occasions. It is also the colour worn by connotations of black are mostly negative as
celebrities and the members of the symphony indicated by black economy (business, activity or
orchestra to show respect to the audience and that work done without the knowledge of the
in the service industry, high-ranking managers government to avoid paying tax); *black market
wear black. Negatively, black is the symbol of (an illegal type of trade in which foreign money or
darkness in the western culture. In the Bible, black goods that are difficult to obtain are bought and
indicates the devil, evil, pain and misfortune (ibid). sold); Black Monday (Monday 19 October 1987,
Some English idioms that have positive or neutral when prices on stock exchanges all over the world
connotations are: black belt (a belt that you can get suddenly began to fall); Black Tuesday (29 October
when you win a game of judo or karate to show that 1929, the day on which the New York Stock
you have reached a very high level); The Black Exchange lost $9 billion. It was the beginning of the
Prince (King Edward III who was a brave soldier.); Great Depression); *black list/ book (a list of the
a black-tie dinner ( a dinner in which dinner jackets names of people, companies, products or countries
and black bow ties should be worn); Black Beauty that an organization or a government considers
(the name of a black horse which is the main unacceptable and that must be avoided); black
character in a novel written in (1877) on which information (information kept by banks or other
many other films and TV series are based); *black financial institutions about people who are not
gold (oil); black diamond (British .English) (a lump trusted to pay back the money which is lent to
of coal); black coffee/ tea (coffee or tea without them); blackmail (the crime of demanding money
milk). by threatening to tell a secret to somebody about
Examples of English idioms that indicate negative them).However, the idiom to be in the black is
connotations of black are: *black death (plague); used positively to mean ( having money in your
black art (magic); black comedy/humour (comedy bank account).
dealing with unpleasant events such as murder in a He (2009,162) states that the word Negro which
humourous way); black deeds/ lies (evil); *black was used to refer to the dark-skinned people who
future (a future without hope or a very depressing came from Africa has been replaced by the word
one); black sheep (a person who is different from black and is used for all aspects related to this race
the rest of their family or group and who is e.g., black English and that "Black is beautiful" has
considered bad or embarrassing); black mark become the modern slogan of the black people
(something done or said by someone that make (ibid). Another example is Black Power, which is

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 140 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

the name of a movement supporting the rights and often match it with other colours and wear it for
political power of the black people (ibid). both sad and happy occasions e.g. people wear
In Kurdish, as indicated by the idiomatic black for mourning and funerals and also for parties
expressions, most of the connotations of black are and other happy occasions. Elderly people prefer to
negative. Black indicates sadness, mourning, bad wear black and other dark colours.
luck, boredom, hatred, bad omen, pessimism, Black, in Kurdish, can also convey some positive
disease, genocide, crime, wrong doing, poverty, etc. or neutral associations. For example, poets describe
Examples are: reş poş (of a person, all in black a woman's hair, mole (somewhere on the face) and
because of being sad or in mourning); Bali reşi be eyes as dark or black to indicate beauty as in çaw
ser şwênêk da kêşa (to spread black wings over a reş (having black eyes); xali resh (black mole); reş
place i.e. something causing a gloomy atmosphere esmer (a person having a lovely dark colour). Black
or situation in a place); cerg reş bûn/ naw sik reş also indicates big size as in reşe xẽzan (black family
bûn (one's liver turning black/ one's inside turning i.e. a big-sized family; reşe zelam (a black person i.e.
black i.e. the state of becoming too annoyed and a big-sized person (The colour black here can also
bored because of a continuous unpleasant be replaced by blue to mean the same i.e. (şine
situation); çare reş/ bexit reş (having a black zelam). Black indicates strength or strong belief in
fate/luck i.e. unlucky); desti reş (black hand, something as in reşe ba (black wind i.e. a strong
reference to a person who commits a crime); dem wind or storm); reşe cû (a black Jew i.e. a Jew who
reş (black-mouthed i.e. a person who always tells has strong belief in his religion). Other idioms with
bad omens); dil reş/ naw sik reş (black-hearted/to black are reş belek (Kurdish folk dance in which
be black inside i.e. a cruel person with a heart full men and women dance together; *zẽri reş (black
of hatred); *dwa rojeki reş (a black future i.e. bad gold i.e. oil) and *reş pest (black-skinned i.e. black
and unpleasant future); le ber çaw reş bûn (to people).
become black in somebody's eyes i.e. to be no more Despite the fact that the connotations of black, as
liked by somebody because of doing wrong things); the examples indicate, are mostly negative in both
pẽ reş (having black feet i.e. a person who is languages, the idiomatic expressions, apart from
considered to bring bad omen to the place he/she the few ones with asterisks, do not match. For
goes to); reş bîn (to see black i.e. Pessimistic); example, the negative use of black in the field of
reşgbigîr (the state of arresting everyone or sending business is mostly related to the English culture.
everybody to war); reş kuji (black killing i.e. Kurdish does not have such expressions except black
genocide); reş u rût (literally, black and naked market. Kurdish, on the other hand uses black to
meaning very poor); rû reş/ rû sia (black-faced i.e. a indicate big size, genocide, poverty, etc. which are
person who has been found guilty of doing not found in English.
something wrong or telling a lie); *roji reş ( black
3. Red: Sûr/ Al
day i.e. a bad day when bad events happen); *reşe
bela (black disease (plague); reş helgeran (to turn Morton, (1995-2017) states that the prehistoric
black either because of disease or sadness); zman people considered red as the colour of fire, blood,
reş (black-tongued meaning a person who is energy, and primal life forces and most of the
shameless and uses dirty words); qele reş ( the connotations of red today come from past
black bird i.e. the crow which is considered a sign associations. He also mentions that red symbolizes
of bad omen so that when a person utters a bad extremes, passionate love, seduction, violence,
omen, they say he/she caws like a crow); *Qel be danger, anger, and adventure. He adds that red is
qel deĺẽ rut reş bi (A crow tells another crow, may also associated with magic and religion. In
your face turn black. This is the kurdish equivalent Christianity it is a symbol of crucifixion of the
for The pot calling the kettle black); *bazari reş (black Christ. It is the most popular colour used on flags;
market); *listi reş (black list). Also, a black cat it is also the international colour for stop in traffic
symbolizes evil. (ibid).
Despite its negative connotations, black is Makarevicius (2014) shares most of the above
considered a practical colour since it matches meanings of red and adds that red, being the color
almost all the other colours; therefore, people of blood, relates to life itself. He suggests that red
young and old and both genders wear black and is associated with fire, energy, passion and love, but

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 141

also indicates rage, war, provocation and revolution (a person with red hair).
and that in Greek mythology, it referred to the H e ( 2 0 0 9 , 1 6 1 ) mentions that red c a n
planet Mars and god of war. He also states that in s y m b o l i z e cruelty and disaster as in: red
Europe and USA red (with green) is a symbol of revenge/ red battle (a cruel battle in which a lot of
Christmas, while red with white is a symbol of lives are lost); red revolution (violent revolution);
Valentine's Day (ibid). *the red flag (a signal to indicate danger);
The following idiomatic expressions indicate m u r d e r a s i n * to have red hands (to commit
some of the above positive and negative murder); to be caught red-handed (to be caught
connotations: red-hot (of a person, showing strong while doing something illegal or wrong); red ruin
feelings); red- hot (of a subject or an issue, exciting (fire, as a disaster); red ink (deficit ). He also states
and of great interest to people); *red-blooded (full that red can carry positive connotations like bravery
of strength and energy); a red rose and a red heart and courage as in red-blooded and happiness as in
are symbols of Valentine Day). Red can also indicate the red-letter day (a day when some happy or
respect and warm greetings as in*to roll out the red exciting events happen).
carpet for somebody (to warmly receive In Kurdish, the idiomatic expressions indicate
somebody) and happiness and joy as in paint the that red has positive and negative connotations. The
town red (to go to different bars and clubs and positive connotations include joy, love, virginity,
enjoy yourself). beauty, youth, health, bravery and martyrdom. For
Examples of negative connotations of red are: a example, the flag of Kurdistan includes red to
red rag to a bull ((British English) like waving a red symbolize the blood of martyrs of Kurdistan who
flag in front of a bull (American English) have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of
(something that is likely to provoke somebody or Kurdistan and the dignity of the Kurdish people
make somebody very angry); red in tooth and claw (Izzadi, 2008). Young people wear red for parties,
(involving opposition or competition that is violent weddings and other happy events. In the past
and without pity); *to see red (to be very angry); on brides used to wear red Kurdish uniforms. A red
red alert (warned of or prepared for a dangerous rose is a symbol of love.
situation); red card (in football (soccer) a card In poetry, red (instead of pink) is used to describe
shown by the referee to a player who has broken the a woman's lips or cheeks as a sign of beauty as in
rules of the game and not allowed to play for the lew al/ gona al (of a woman having red lips/
rest of the game); *to give somebody the red light cheeks); sûr wek xwên/ wek denûki kew (as red as
(to prevent somebody from doing something); to be blood/ as red as a partridge's beak indication of the
in the red (to owe money to your bank because you depth of the red colour which is a sign of beauty).
have spent more than you have in your account); *to Red cheeks indicate health, beauty and youth as in
go through the red light/ jump the red light (to not suru spi (literally red and white i.e. a person with
stop when there is the red traffic light). white skin and pink cheeks); sûr u sepan
Red can also indicate embarrassment as in *beet (collocation literally meaning having a glowing
red (of the face bright red or pink because of being complexion which is a sign of good health). Red face
embarrassed or ashamed); *red-faced (with a red (for women) is a symbol of chastity as in Ru sûr bi.
face either because of embarrassment or (literally, may you keep a red face, said to a woman
anger).Other connotations of red are indicated by to mean: May you stay chaste. Red here can be
the following idioms: red herring (an unimportant replaced with white with the same meaning). Red
fact, idea, event etc., that takes people's attention eyes and red mouth indicate bravery as in çaw sûr
away from the important ones); *red line (an issue (red-eyed i.e. brave and challenging); dem sûr (red-
or a demand that a person or a group refuses to mouthed i.e. brave). The word red in the English
change their opinion about during a disagreement idiom red-blooded is replaced by the word warm in
or a negotiation); redneck (an offensive word used Kurdish as in the idiom *xwen gerim (warm-
for a person in a country area of the US, who has blooded to indicate strength and energy) and both
little education and has strong conservative words are qualities that describe blood. Red is also
political opinions); red tape (official rules that seem used to indicate respect and warm greetings as in
more complicated than necessary and prevent *Fershi sûri bo raxist (rolled out the red carpet for
things from being done quickly); *red-head/ headed somebody i.e. received somebody very warmly).

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 142 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

Negative meanings of red include bloodshed, and idioms like red-neck and red herring, while using
embarrassment, anger, fire, rebellion, danger, red face to indicate chastity, red-mouthed to indicate
warning, threat, murder etc. The English idiom beet bravery and red eyes to indicate anger and threat are
red has the Kurdish equivalent blood red to indicate examples of idioms specific to Kurdish.
shyness or embarrassment as indicated by the
4. Green: Sewz/Kesk
idiom demuçawi wek xweni lehat (His/her face
turned blood red). Red eyes can indicate anger, Kleynhans (2007) states that "green is the largest
threat, rebellion as in çaw le sûrkirdnewe (to family discernible to the human eye, which is why
redden one's eyes at somebody i.e. to threaten our feeling towards green may be so varied". Green
somebody); *çawi sur bwe (literally meaning, one's has positive connotations including environment,
eyes have turned red, i.e. one has become very growth and renewal in spring, fertility, freshness,
angry; or has become conceited or rebellious); nature, youth, health, peace and calmness, things
sûrkirdnewe (can mean frying food or toasting that are cool and refreshing, and wealth (ibid).
bread until red in colour, or it can mean to find out Similarly, Dunn (2014) suggests that green is the
the truth about something said by somebody);. Red most pervasive and the dominant colour of nature
hands indicate murder as in *dest sûr bûn/ kirdin that symbolizes youthfulness, strength, freshness
(to make one's hand red / one's hand having healthiness, restfulness calmness, fertility,
become red i.e. of a person having committed dynamism, and generosity. She also adds that
murder). Red can also indicate embarrassment as in green has a soothing, relaxing and healing effect on
*sûr helgeran/ sûr bunewe (to turn red either our physical and mental well-being; therefore, it is
because of being shy or embarrassed); Red can a suitable colour for nurses to wear during their
indicate danger and warning as in * Glopi sûri bo work in hospital. In the business world, as
dagirsand (to give somebody the red light i.e. to suggested by Dunn (2014), green indicates growth
warn somebody not to do something;otherwise, the and prosperity. Morton (2011) states that green
results will not be good);*alay sûr (red flag as a sign traffic lights and green fire exit signs symbolize
of war or danger); *Heli sûr (the red line i.e. safety all over the world and that green is a sign of
something which is considered a taboo, therefore good luck in most western cultures as indicated by
one shouldn't talk about it). (There is a slight a green shamrock.
difference in meaning between the Kurdish version The following English idioms indicate some of
and the English version above). Le glopi sûri da/ the above mentioned connotations of green: green
glopi sûri bezand (in traffic, jumped the red light). politics (one that supports the protection of the
In Kurdish and also in English the colour orange is environment); The Green Party (a British political
sometimes replaced by red. For example fire has an party that aims to protect the environment); The
orange colour but it is described as red in both Green Party of the United States (US political party
languages as in the English expression red ruin which aims to protect the environment and
(reference to fire) and the Kurdish expression Agre supports social justice); to have green fingers
sûre le min dure (Red fire, keep away from me, said (British English)/ to have a green thumb (American
when a person wants to keep away from other English) (to be skilful at farming); greener pastures
people's problems instead of helping them); also in (better places or jobs); *greenery (attractive green
the English red-headed and the Kurdish *ser sûr (red- leaves and plants); The grass is greener on the
headed/haired meaning a person with red hair) red other side of the fence (of people, not satisfied with
has replaced orange. what they have and always think that other people
What is observed from the above mentioned are in a better situation or believe that things in
examples is that both languages share different other places are always better than what is found in
connotations indicated by red such as anger, their local area); the green room (a room where
embarrassment, murder, energy, love, beauty, joy, actors rest after they act their role); green house (a
danger and they have somehow similar idiomatic building with glass sides and a glass roof for
expressions for these connotations (see the ones growing plants in);*greens (green vegetables);
with asterisks); however, there are some green roof (a roof with plants grown on it to keep
connotations that belong to English only e.g. using the house cool in summer and warm in winter); *to
red to indicate deficit as in red ink, to be in the red, give green light to somebody/ to get green light (to

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 143

let him/her do something/ to be given permission thought to cause the greenhouse effect , especially
to do something.); the Green Man (a figure of a carbon dioxide); green audit (an official
person that has a green light shining through it at examination of the effect of a company's business
traffic lights. In Britain, the green man lights up on the environment).
when the traffic has stopped, to show people that it Kurdish, based on the examples found in the
is safe to cross the road). Another meaning is (an Kurdish idiom books used in this study, has very
image of a man surrounded by green plants, trees, few expressions with the colour green most of
etc. which is an old symbol of fertility in Britain); which carry positive connotations. Green
*green grocer (a shop keeper who sells fruit and symbolizes nature, environment, spring, life,
vegetables); green card (a document that legally rebirth, plants and vegetables and in this sense and
allows somebody from another country to live and with some idiomatic expressions, it is often
work in the US). In British English it is used to refer replaced by blue (şin). The following expressions
to (an insurance document that you need when you indicate some of the above meanings: *sewze
drive your car in another country); greenback (an (green vegetables); *sewze froş (green grocer);
American dollar note). To green something or *sawzayi/ şinayi (greenery); Hiçi le sewiz/şin
somebody means (to create parks and green areas nabet (literally, nothing becomes green/blue out of
with plants and trees or to raise awareness about something i.e. of an effort doesn't give any results)
environment protection). .Green is used in the flag of Kurdistan as a symbol
Green, in English, also has negative connotations of the beauty of the nature and the landscapes
including: envy, lack of experience, gullibility, of Kurdistan (Izadi, 2008)).
immaturity, nausea, rawness, sourness, and the Green is also connected with Islam religion and is
alien creatures coming from other plantes e.g., little a sign of sacredness. Muslim religious men often
green Martians (Kleynhans, 2007). Some of the wear green belts and consider green as a sacred
idiomatic expressions that show these negative colour; hence, the idiom Desti sawz debêt (literally
connotations are: green with envy (very jealous); meaning one's hands become green i.e. of a person,
green-eyed (very jealous); the green-eyed monster he becomes a saint if he kills somebody who is
(used as a reference to jealousy); green as grass (of wicked and hated by people). Traditionally, when
a person, still very young and lacking experience); people visit holy shrines, sometimes they take a
*green (of fruit meaning unripe); greenhorn (a piece of green cloth and leave it on the grave of the
gullible person who has little experience; therefore, holy person in the hope that their wishes may come
he can be easily tricked); *green about/around the true, and other visitors would take strips from the
gills (of a person, sick and about to vomit); green cloth and tie it round their wrists for healing
greenwash (disapproving, activities by a company from physical or mental illnesses. Green is also a
or an organization that are intended to make people sign of safety as indicated by the green traffic light
think that it is concerned about the environment, as in *Glopi sawzi bo dagirsand (to give green light
even if its real business actually harms the to somebody i.e. to allow somebody to do
environment. something). The only negative connotation of green
Other expressions with green include: The green is when it is used to indicate a person's colour
welly brigade (humorous or disapproving, rich because of sickness as in *kesk helgeran (to turn
people who live or like to visit the countryside); green, meaning to turn pale because of feeling sick.
green belt (an area of open land around a city Green in this example can be replaced by yellow
where building is strictly controlled); Green Beret zerd helgeran (to turn yellow because of sickness)
(a member of the US army Special Forces); green or black reṣ helgaran (to turn black because of
field ( used to describe an area of land that has not sickness).
yet had buildings on it, but for which building As the above English and Kurdish examples
development may be planned); the greenhouse show, English, as compared to Kurdish has more
effect (the problem of the gradual rise in idioms with green and most of them belong to the
temperature of the earth's atmosphere, caused by English language and culture. The similarities can
an increase of gases such as carbon dioxide in the be found in using green to indicate environment
air surrounding the earth, which trap the heat of the and vegetables and also when referring to sickness.
sun); greenhouse gas (any of the gases that are The other difference is that in Kurdish, green, when

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 144 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

referring to environment and green vegetables or yellow journalism (newspaper reports that are
planting can be used interchangeably with blue and exaggerated and written to shock readers); yellow
when referring to sickness, it can be interchanged is (an offensive word used to describe the light
with yellow or black. brown skin of people from some East Asian
countries); yellow (disapproving, meaning easily
5. Yellow: Zerd
frightened); yellow line (in Brtain) a yellow line
Kleynhans (2007) suggests that yellow is the most painted at the side of a road to show that you can
easily perceived colour, especially when it is set only park your car there at a particular time or only
against black; therefore, yellow against black is for a short time); double yellow lines (two yellow
often used in warning signs. According to lines meaning you cannot park your car there at all).
Kleyhans, yellow’s positive connotations include In Kurdish, idiomatic expressions with yellow
cheerfulness, sun, gold, happiness, vitality, hope are few in number and has some positive
and optimism. Makarevicius (2014) states that associations such as the sun, light, brightness, gold
"yellow is reflective and luminous". He adds that in and hence, it is used in the flag of Kurdistan to
most cultures, yellow is associated with the sun represent the source of life and light, while the
which is "the dominant force in the solar system". blazing golden (yellow) sun emblem at the center is
And that it also indicates wisdom, glory, light, joy, a cultural symbol representing wisdom in the
enthusiasm and optimism According to the same ancientKurdish Zoroastrianism and Yezidi religion
source, in Greek mythology, yellow is the color of s (Izadi 2008). It also indicates beauty when
Mercury, the messenger of the gods and the combined with red as in zerd u sûr (yellow and red,
communicator of mental and spiritual of children or young people, lovely and beautiful).
enlightenment. Poets use yellow/golden when describing a
Some of the above connotations can be observed woman's hair or the beauty of the sun or the sunrise.
in idioms like yellow brick road (a course of action However, yellow has also negative and neutral
that a person takes thinking that it leads to good connotations such as embarrassment as in rû zerd
things); yellow ribbon (In the US, a piece of yellow (yellow-faced, of a person embarrassed because
material that a person ties around a tree as a sign he/she has done something wrong); sickness or
that they are thinking about a person who has gone fear as in wek za'farani zerdi lehat (turned as
away, especially a soldier fighting in a war or yellow as saffron i.e. turned very yellow either
somebody taken as hostage or prisoner hoping that because of fear or sickness or embarrassment); zerd
the person will soon return safely). Despite the helgeran (to turn yellow either because of sickness
positive meanings of yellow, most of the English or fear or embarrassment); reng zerd (to have a
idiomatic expressions with yellow indicate negative yellow/pale colour because of sickness or sadness);
connotations. For example, Kleynhans (2007) *zertik/ zerduyi (jaundice). Yellow also indicates
associates yellow with caution as indicated by the the state of being unripe as in zerd u zol (of fruit
yellow traffic-light; sickness, betrayal and meaning unripe); Yellow is also used to show that a
cowardice and Makarevicius (2014) associates it tumour or an infection has become soft and ripe and
with aging, illnesses (such as jaundice), decayed ready to ooze pus as indicated by zerd bûn (to
teeth, infection and pus. The following idioms become yellow because full of pus). In cooking,
show some of these negative meanings of yellow: zerdkirdin means to halfcook vegetables like okra,
yellow-belly/ yellow-bellied (of a person, green beans, etc. for the purpose of cooking it later
cowardly and easily frightened); yellow or to keep them in the freezer).
streak (down someone's back) The connotations of yellow in the two languages
(a tendency toward cowardice); yellow card in are very different. They only match when
football is (a card shown by the referee to a player indicating, sickness or fear, but the idiomatic
as a warning about bad behaviour); yellow dog (a expressions that express these connotations are
despicable (evil) person or thing); a yellow flag on quite different. Yellow face in Kurdish doesn't only
a ship shows that somebody has or may have an indicate fear or cowardice; it can also indicate
infectious disease; yellow fever (an infectious embarrassment, sadness or sickness.
tropical disease that makes the skin turn yellow and
6. Blue: Şîn
often causes death); *yellow skin (jaundice);

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 145

According to Makarevicius (2014), blue do something as hard or as long as you possibly can
symbolizes calmness, peace, loyalty, truth, dignity, but without success); *hit somebody black and
royalty and contemplation, but also sadness. It is blue (to hit somebody until they are covered with
associated with the sky and the sea, and in many bruises); blue baby (a baby whose skin is slightly
cultures, it is the symbol of infinity and mystery. blue at birth because there is something wrong with
The same source further adds that for the ancient its heart); blue movie (a movie that contains
priests and physicians of Britain known as the indecent or morally offensive scenes); scream blue
Druids, blue is the color of harmony, truth, and murder (British English) (to scream loudly and for
wisdom while in Christianity, it is a symbol of a long time especially to protest against
Christ’s hue, and the color of heaven where he something.); blue murder (a violent scene); Other
resides. Blue also symbolizes the color of “The connotations of blue are indicated by the following
Divine Light” and the Virgin Mary. In general, blue idioms: out of the blue (suddenly or unexpectedly);
is considered a non-threatening color, which a bolt from the blue (a sudden or unexpected event
everyone can use (ibid). or news) blue stocking (old fashioned, a well-
In addition to the above meanings, Kleynhans educated woman who is more interested in ideas
(2007) associates blue with spirituality, royalty and studying than in the traditional feminine
aristocracy, tranquility, conservatism, loyalty, issues); blue-collar (a worker who works in a
dependability, security, introversion, sadness, factory (reference to low or working class); like
depression, unexpected things, and low class. blue blazes (repeatedly); once in a blue moon
According to Dunn (2014), in the UK, blue is the (very rarely); blue-on-blue (in a war, used to
colour of healthcare. The National Health Service describe an accident or attack in which people are
logo is blue and nurses’ uniforms are often blue. hit by a bomb or weapon that is fired by their own
Some of the above positive connotations are side).
expressed by the following idiomatic expressions: In Kurdish, as mentioned above, blue (şîn) is
true blue (strongly supporting something/ sometimes used interchangeably with green (sawz)
strongly supporting the conservative party); blue especially when talking about the environment and
blood (a member of a royal or socially important planting as in şînayi (greenery) şîn/ sawz bûn
family); blue helmet (a member of a United Nations (literally to become blue/green, of a plant i.e. to
force that is trying to prevent war or violence in a grow).
place); blue riband/ribbon (an honour, sometimes Blue is a symbol of beauty when used by poets to
in the form of a blue ribbon, given to the winner of describe nature e.g. the sky, rivers and lakes or a
the first prize in a competition); a blue-riband event woman's blue eyes It is also believed that blue
(a very important event ); blue-eyed boy (the protects from evil eye; hence, the belief that wearing
favourite person of somebody. or a worker blue clothes or beads wards off evil eye as in lepkey
favoured by his/her boss); blue flag (In British şîn (a blue amulet or blue beads worn by some
English it may refer to a blue flag used in motor people to be protected from evil eyes). Dark blue or
racing to show that a driver who is much further indigo is also a colour worn in mourning and
ahead is trying to pass, or it may mean an award funerals. Blue, in Kurdish, has other connotations
given to beaches in Europe that are clean and safe); like physical efforts especially when combined with
blue-sky (involving new and interesting ideas black or purple as in *areqi reş u şini derkird
which are not yet possible or practical). (literally meaning, of a person, perspired black and
Negative associations of blue can be observed in blue sweat i.e. became very tired because of exerting
the following expressions: to feel blue (to feel physical efforts) or with purple as in şîn u mor
depressed); baby blues (a depressed feeling that bûnewe (of a person, to become blue and purple
some women get after the birth of a baby); blues (a because of laughing or crying hard). Blue is also
type of slow sad music with strong rhythms used to indicate bruises on one's body as in *şîn u
developed by the African American musicians in mur bûnewe (to become blue and purple, of part of
the southern US.); to be between the devil and the the body, to be badly bruised). Blue can also
deep blue sea (to be in a difficult situation where indicate big size as in şine zelam (a big-sized
there are two equally unpleasant or unacceptable person); şîne dro (a blue lie i.e. a big lie). Ser şîn
choices); *do something until you are blue ( try to kirdin (literally meaning to dye one's head/hair

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 146 Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS)

blue i.e. to put mud on one's head to express deep red (11p-9 n); blue (4 p-5 n); yellow (3 p- 6 n);
sadness because of the death of a loved person. This green (5p-2 n). The more positive colours are
custom was practiced in the past but no more or white and green. The more negative colours
very rarely nowadays. are black and yellow while red and blue are in
As the examples show, blue has the least between.
similarity in connotations and idiomatic d. Many of the colours combine with a body part
expressions in the two languages. There is partial to express the quality, appearance, behaviour,
similarity in the general meaning when blue is used feelings or attitudes of a person. This is
especially true with regard to Kurdish.
to indicate (exerting physical efforts) as in the
e. In Kurdish green and blue can be used
English idiom do something until you are blue and
interchangeably when referring to greenery or
the Kurdish areqi reş u şini derkird; however, while
vegetables in general or planting, but this is
the English idiom connotes failure despite trying hard,
not found in English.
the Kurdish one connotes success in achieving a f. The number of the totally or partially similar
hard task. Also, there is some partial similarity in idiomatic expressions with the 6 colours in
meaning between the English hit somebody black English and Kurdish are: black (8), red (10),
and blue and the Kurdish şîn u mor bûnewe (to white (8), green (4), yellow (3) and blue (2) (See
become blue and purple, of part of the body to the idiomatic expressions with asterisks for
become bruised) since both of them refer to bruises each colour). This shows that the similarities
on the body resulting from some violent act or are far fewer than the differences and proves
accident. While the English idiom shows that the the validity of the hypothesis that the symbolic
bruise is a result of being hit by somebody, the use of colour terms in idiomatic expressions is,
Kurdish idiom does not specify the reason of the to a great extent, culture specific.
bruise. It can be due to any violent act or accident.
There is also difference in the colours used in these 7. Conclusion
two idioms: the first English idiom contains only
blue while the Kurdish uses black and blue; in the This study concludes that despite similarities in
second one, the English idiom uses black and blue the general meanings and connotations of colours
while the Kurdish one uses blue and purple. across cultures, each culture has its own traditions
and customs that distinguishes it from other
6. RESULTS: cultures and this is reflected in their perception of
colours and in their idiomatic use of colour terms.
The results of the study can be summarized in the However, with the recent globalization movement
following points: there is a growing trend towards more similarities
a. Colours have positive and negative in colour symbolism across cultures because, as
connotations with some colours being more stated by, Kleynhans (2007, 46), "Colour is a
negative, and some more positive, while some universal language that crosses cultural boundaries
are in between. in our electronically/technologically/satellite
b. According to this study5, the order of the linked Global Village".
frequency of the use of the six basic colours in
idiomatic expressions in English is: black (36), The Kurdish phonetic symbols and their equivalents
green (32), red (30), white (26), blue (24) and in English
yellow (15). In Kurdish, black (33), white (21),
Kurdish Phonetic Equivalent in
red (20), blue (9), yellow (9) and green (7).
c. The positive-negative ratio of the six colours is: Symbol English

English: black (11 p-25 n); green (20 p-12 n); /a/ /æ/
red (8 p-21 n); white (16 p-10 n); blue (14 p-10 /ȃ/ /a:/
n); and yellow (3 p-12 n) (Note: the positive
/e/ /ə/
ones also include the neutral ones).
Thus, the more positive colours in English are: /ê/ /e/

green, white and blue, while the more negative /u/ /u/
colours are: black, red and yellow. /û/ /u:/
Kurdish: black (10 p-23 n); white (17 p- 4 n);

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Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) 147

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1Central Kurdish dialect (also called Sorani dialect) is "the language of a plurality of Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan
(Kurdistan in Iran) and Southern Kurdistan (Kurdistan in Iraq), with about 8 million speakers" (Kurdish Academy of
Language 2016). "Central Kurdish is one of the two official languages of Iraq, along with Arabic, and is in political
documents simply referred to as Kurdish" (Kurdish Academy of Language, 2018).
2The English colour idiomatic expressions have been taken from the following sources: Atlas Dictionary of English

Idioms (2005), Collins Coubuild Pocket Idiom's Dictionay, (1996)., Macmillan English Dictionary 2nd ed. (2007) and
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 8th ed. (2010).
3 The Kurdish idiomatic expressions are taken from: Ali, Jalal Mahmood. (1981). Idyom le Zma:ni Kurdida. (Idioms in

Kurdish Language). Vol 1.; Ali, Jalal Mahmood (2001). I: dyom la Zima:ni: Kurdi:da. (Idioms in Kurdis Language). vol.
2. and Shareef, Abdul-wahab Kanabi. (2005). Ferhengi: I: dyom le Zmani Kurdi. (A Dictionary of Idioms in Kurdish
Language).
4 The study also includes idiomatic expressions, which are found in Kurdish and not mentioned in the sources used.

These are included by the researcher after consultation with experienced persons.
5The study has covered most (not all) of the idiomatic expressions for each colour in the two languages; therefore, the

given numbers are only limited to this study.

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