oransje

Oransje is a Dutch term mainly used as a colloquial or playful variant of the color word orange. In standard Dutch the color is oranje, but oransje appears in informal speech, branding, and literary contexts to describe a lighter, softer, or more casual shade of orange or a small orange-colored object. It is less common in formal writing.

The form oransje is built from oranje with the diminutive suffix -tje or -sje, a pattern used in Dutch to convey nuance or affection. As such, oransje does not denote a strict color category but a stylistic or tonal variation of orange.

Culturally, orange carries strong associations in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions due to the House of Orange-Nassau. This makes orange a national colour often worn or displayed during national celebrations and sports events. In such contexts, oransje may be used in playful, creative, or branding contexts to evoke warmth, friendliness, or a lighter mood while still signaling orange.

See also: oranje, oranjekoorts, House of Orange-Nassau.