The Colour Orange Was Named After The Fruit
Interesting Facts in Easy English
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- etymologist: a person who studies the evolution of languages
- citrus: a plant family that includes lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit
- evolve: to change over time
- drop: to let go; to no longer use
- Sanskrit: an ancient language in India
Comprehension Questions
- Which came first, the colour orange or the citrus fruit?
- How did the word “naranja” evolve into orange?
- What does “geoluhread” translate to in Modern English?
Discussion Question: There is no English word that rhymes perfectly with “orange”. What other English words can you think of that don’t rhyme with any other English word?
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The Colour Orange Was Named After The Fruit
You often hear the question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”. Have you ever wondered about colour words? According to etymologists, the colour orange was named after the citrus fruit. It evolved from the Spanish word “naranja” meaning orange tree. The Spanish word came from a Sanskrit word. In the 16th century, when the fruit became widely available in Europe, the English dropped the “n” and began using the word “orange” to describe the colour orange. Previously in Old English, the colour orange had been called yellow-red (“geoluhread”).
- The word “orange” was used to describe the fruit before the colour.
- The word “naranja” was taken from a Sanskrit word meaning orange tree. The Spanish used this word and the English adapted it.
- The word “geoluhread” is an Old English word that translates to yellow-red.
