coloured
gb/kˈʌlɚd/ us/kˈʌlɚd/
A2
English
~ 4900
színes, színű, színezett, festett, elfogult, befolyásolt, színes bőrű
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured [colour/description]
The room was decorated with brightly coloured balloons.
A szobát élénk színű léggömbökkel díszítették.
She wore a beautifully coloured scarf.
Gyönyörű színű sálat viselt.
The fish in the aquarium are all brightly coloured.
These documents are printed on coloured paper for easy sorting.
Learner examples
The box is coloured red.
A doboz piros színű.
She has a coloured dress.
Színes ruhája van.
I like coloured pencils.
The wall is coloured blue.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'coloured' with 'colourful'. 'Coloured' simply means having colour, while 'colourful' often implies many bright colours and attractiveness.
Meaning
Having one or more colours
Collocations
brightly coloured
|coloured paper
|coloured lights
|coloured fabric
Synonyms
colored (Alternative spelling used in American English.)
|
dyed (Specifically means the colour was added artificially.)
Antonyms
colourless (Lacking any colour.)
|
plain (Without any design or added colour.)
Themes
appearance
|art
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having one or more colours, not just black, white, or grey.
Having a surface or appearance that shows one or more colours, rather than being plain or colourless.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured with [substance]
The water in the fountain was artificially coloured for the festival.
A szökőkút vizét mesterségesen megszínezték a fesztiválra.
She had her hair coloured last week.
Múlt héten befestették a haját.
These beads are made of coloured glass.
Learner examples
My hair is coloured brown now.
A hajam most barnára van festve.
The juice is coloured red.
A gyümölcslé pirosra van színezve.
The window is coloured blue.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realise that 'coloured' here implies the colour is not natural.
Meaning
With colour added artificially
Collocations
artificially coloured
|coloured hair
|coloured glass
Synonyms
dyed (Commonly used for fabrics and hair.)
|
tinted (Usually means slightly coloured.)
Antonyms
natural-coloured (Keeping the original, unaltered colour.)
Themes
manufacturing
|art
|fashion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Made to have a colour by using paint, dye, or another substance.
Having a colour that was applied or changed by human action, such as through dyeing, painting, or printing.
B2
3
elfogult
B2
befolyásolt
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured by [feeling/opinion]
His judgement was coloured by his past experiences.
Ítéletét befolyásolták a múltbeli tapasztalatai.
The article gave a coloured account of the events.
A cikk elfogult képet festett az eseményekről.
Her memories of the place are coloured by nostalgia.
Learner examples
His answer was coloured by anger.
A válaszát a harag befolyásolta.
My view is coloured by my family.
A látásmódomat befolyásolja a családom.
The story is coloured by love.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this figurative meaning with the literal sense of having colour.
Meaning
Influenced by opinion or feeling
Collocations
coloured view
|coloured account
|coloured perception
Synonyms
biased (Shows unfair preference due to opinion or prejudice.)
|
influenced (Affected by a certain factor.)
Antonyms
objective (Not affected by personal feelings; neutral.)
Themes
psychology
|communication
|emotions
Definition
Changed by a person's feelings or ideas, not completely fair or neutral.
Affected by a particular opinion, emotion, or bias in a way that changes how something is perceived or described.
B2
HISTORICAL
4
színes bőrű
B2
színes
B2
The term 'coloured' was used in apartheid-era South Africa to classify certain groups of people.
A „színes bőrű” kifejezést az apartheid-kori Dél-Afrikában bizonyos embercsoportok besorolására használták.
Old signs reading 'Coloured Only' can still be found in museums.
Múzeumokban ma is találhatók régi táblák, amelyeken ez áll: „Csak színeseknek”.
Learner examples
The book says he was called a coloured man.
A könyv szerint „színes bőrű” férfiként emlegették.
In history class we read about 'coloured' people in South Africa.
Történelemórán a dél-afrikai „színes bőrű” emberekről olvastunk.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realise this term is outdated and offensive in most contexts today.
Meaning
Racial classification term (dated)
Collocations
coloured person
|coloured community
Synonyms
mixed-race (Modern term for people of more than one racial background; neutral but context-dependent.)
Themes
history
|society
|politics
|relationships
Definition
An old word, now offensive, for someone who is not white, used in history books and old laws.
(Dated and often offensive) Describing a person who is not considered white, especially in historical contexts in South Africa and the United States.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coloured
IPA
GB/kˈʌlɚd/
US/kˈʌlɚd/
Syllables & stress
col - oured (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (col)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: coloured
Word family
Expressions
artificially coloured
1/ˌɑɹtəfˈɪʃəli kˈʌlɚd/
fixed phrase
With artificial colour added
Coloured using something made by people, like paint or dye.
Examples
- The drinks were artificially coloured to make them look more appealing.
- This fabric is artificially coloured using natural dyes.
brightly coloured
1/bɹˈaɪtli kˈʌlɚd/
fixed phrase
Having vivid colours
Having strong and bright colours.
Examples
- The children wore brightly coloured costumes for the play.
- Brightly coloured flowers filled the garden.
coloured by [something]
1/kˈʌlɚd bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Influenced by something else
Made different because of a feeling, opinion, or other influence.
Examples
- His judgement was coloured by jealousy.
- Her memories are coloured by sadness.