Coloring

/ˈkʌlərɪŋ/ noun

Definition

the process of adding color; natural color or complexion

Etymology

From Old French color, from Latin color 'color, complexion'

Kelly Says

Interestingly, the British spell it 'colouring' while Americans drop the 'u' - one of many spelling differences that emerged in the 1800s!

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ስብስቦ
ARالعربية
تلوين
BNবাংলা
রঙ করা
CACatalà
coloració
CSČeština
barvení
DADansk
farvelægning
DEDeutsch
Färbung
ELΕλληνικά
χρωματισμός
ESEspañol
coloración
FAفارسی
رنگ آمیزی
FISuomi
väritys
FRFrançais
coloration
GUGU
રંગીકરણ
HAHA
maikaita
HEעברית
צביעה
HIहिन्दी
रंग
HUMagyar
színezés
IDBahasa Indonesia
pewarnaan
IGIG
ịta-aka
ITItaliano
colorazione
JA日本語
色付け
KKKK
түстеу
KMKM
ការលាបពណ៌
KO한국어
색칠
MRMR
रंगीत करणे
MSBahasa Melayu
pewarnaan
MYမြန်မာ
ရောင်စုံပြုခြင်း
NLNederlands
kleuring
NONorsk
farging
PAPA
ਰੰਗਾਈ
PLPolski
kolorowanie
PTPortuguês
coloração
RORomână
colorare
RUРусский
раскраска
SVSvenska
färgning
SWKiswahili
kulora
TAதமிழ்
வண்ணம் தீட்டுதல்
TEతెలుగు
రంగు చేయడం
THไทย
การระบายสี
TLTL
pagkulay
TRTürkçe
boyama
UKУкраїнська
розфарбування
URاردو
رنگ کاری
VITiếng Việt
tô màu
YOYO
ìdìwọ̀
ZH中文
着色
ZUZU
ukubala

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Early-20th-century 'coloring books' marketed to girls as passive artistic consumption; 'coloring' coded feminine/childish while 'painting/drawing' retained masculine/adult prestige in fine arts hierarchies.

Inclusive Usage

Use freely; recognize coloring as legitimate artistic practice. Avoid gendered marketing ('for girls'); present as accessible creative expression for all ages.

Inclusive Alternatives

["painting","creating color","artistic rendering"]

Empowerment Note

Contemporary artists (e.g., Olivia Fulton, adult coloring therapy) reclaim coloring as mindful/therapeutic practice, resisting gendered diminishment.

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