The Surprising Origins Of The Word Orange

In terms of the history of colours, it’s only recently that the colour orange got its own name. Surprisingly, the fruit came first, originating in China, and the English word ‘orange’ to describe the colour, followed thereafter.

It’s thought that the orange fruit originally came from China – the German word Apfelsine and the Dutch sinaasappel (Chinese apple) reflect this. Historians believe the fruit made its way to Europe either by Italian traders or Portuguese navigators around 1500. In fact, ‘China apple’ is still a synonym for orange in a number of languages, including Dutch and Ukrainian.

Before orange (the fruit) made its way from China to Europe, yellow-red was called simply that: yellow-red, or even just red.

The English word ‘orange’, to describe the colour, ultimately comes from the Sanskrit term for the orange tree: nāraṅga. It’s thought that early Persian emperors collected exotic trees for their gardens, which likely included orange trees. Arabs later traded the fruit and spread the word all the way to Spain; the Spanish word for orange is naranja. In Old French, the fruit became orenge, and this was adopted into English, eventually becoming ‘orange’, to describe the fruit as well as the colour.

Love reading Culture Trip? How about travelling with us! Our Culture Trips are small-group tours that truly immerse you in a destination through authentic travel experiences. You can also embrace slow travel and the joys of journeying by train on our eco-friendly Rail Trips.

Oranges beat the likes of pumpkins and carrots to name the shade of the colour itself. This most likely has to do with timing. Pumpkins weren’t discovered until later, and carrots didn’t become orange until the 16th century when Dutch farmers bred them that way. Before that, they were various other colours, including yellow, white, purple, and red, but rarely orange.

Today, orange trees have become the most commonly grown fruit trees in the world. It’s a popular crop from the Far East to the Mediterranean area. However, Florida, in the United States, leads in world production of the fruit, having an annual yield of more than 200 million boxes.

So there you have it, the orange fruit originated in China, was brought to Europe by traders, and via Sanskrit, Spanish and Old French evolved into the English word we now use to describe both the fruit and the colour.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.