púrpura
“púrpura” means “purple” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
purple
Also: violet
📝 In Action
Ella lleva una bufanda púrpura muy bonita.
A2She is wearing a very pretty purple scarf.
El cielo se volvió púrpura justo antes de la noche.
B1The sky turned purple just before nightfall.
Las flores púrpura resaltan en el jardín verde.
B2The purple flowers stand out in the green garden.
purple
Also: purpura
📝 In Action
En la antigua Roma, la púrpura era un símbolo de poder.
B2In ancient Rome, purple was a symbol of power.
El tinte para crear la púrpura era extremadamente caro.
C1The dye to create purple was extremely expensive.
El médico le diagnosticó una púrpura debido a la falta de plaquetas.
C2The doctor diagnosed him with purpura due to a lack of platelets.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: púrpura
Question 1 of 3
Which word is more common for describing a purple shirt in everyday conversation?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'purpŭra', which came from the Greek word 'porphýra'. It originally referred to a specific sea snail used to create a very expensive dye.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'púrpura' the same as 'morado'?
Technically, 'púrpura' is a more specific, reddish-purple shade, while 'morado' is a general term for purple. In casual speech, 'morado' is used much more often.
Why does it end in 'a' if I'm talking about a man?
Some color words in Spanish, like 'púrpura', 'naranja', and 'rosa', have a fixed ending. They don't change to match the gender of the object.
What is 'purpurina'?
It sounds like 'púrpura', but 'purpurina' actually means 'glitter'! It can be any color, not just purple.