Color Names · Entry

Lilac

Persian via Arabic, French, and Spanish

“a pale purple, after the lilac flower”

Where it comes from

nilak, 'bluish'

Fun Fact

The word traveled a long route into English, passing through Arabic and Spanish before arriving via French, picking up its modern floral association with the lilac shrub along the way.

Draw another

🎲 Draw another See more Color Names →