Värvus

Värvus is the Estonian word for color or hue. In everyday language, värvus denotes the perceptual property that allows objects to be distinguished by color, and it is used broadly in art, design, science, and education. In technical contexts, värvus becomes a general label for color properties and classifications, including discussion of hue, saturation, and brightness, as well as color matching and color palettes.

Etymology and morphology: The noun värvus is formed from the root word värv (color or pigment) with the suffix -us, creating an abstract noun that refers to the quality or state of being colored. It is a standard element of the Estonian lexicon and is taught in dictionaries and color-related curricula.

Usage notes: While värvus primarily denotes color in the singular, Estonian distinguishes color concepts like hue or shade with more specific terms when necessary. In multilingual contexts, värvus is sometimes translated simply as “color,” but exact nuance can depend on context.

See also: Estonian language, color theory, color space, perception of color.