Skip to content

pourpre

crimson, purple

adjective POOR-pruh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Colors

Origin: from Latin 'purpura', Greek 'porphyra'

Usage Note

pourpre describes a deep red-purple colour, historically associated with royalty and imperial power because purple dye was extraordinarily expensive in antiquity. As a noun (le pourpre) it can refer to the colour itself or to the office of a cardinal in the Catholic Church (recevoir la pourpre). Distinct from violet (bluer-purple) and cramoisi (brighter crimson).

Examples

"Le ciel prenait des teintes pourpres au crépuscule."

Natural Translation

The sky took on crimson hues at dusk.

Explore French by topic