Fun Material in Greek & English (for Tiny Learners)
Hello friends! I know you’re always on the lookout for fresh, engaging materials to support our little ones in embracing their Greek heritage (while mastering English at the same time). This week I’ve put together a set of free printable Greek/English colour flashcards that are perfect for our preschoolers.
The flashcards are designed with vibrant splashes of colour and clear, bilingual labels to make learning both fun and effective. They’re a great tool to help our kiddos with colour recognition skills and kickstart language development in both languages.
Feel free to download them and let me know how they work out in your classroom / homeschool / kitchen table / car.
Keep reading to discover creative ways to use these flashcards, tips on making them durable, and insights into the benefits of early bilingual education.
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The Earlier the Better
Introducing a second language early in life isn’t just about communication. This critical window lays the foundation for future language development and cognitive skills. But why?
Between birth and age three, children’s brains are exceptionally receptive to language learning, making this period ideal for introducing a second language. During these early years, the brain’s heightened neuro-plasticity allows it to form and strengthen neural connections lightning fast. The result: Kids under 3 can learn a second language as easily and naturally as they can learn to walk 🤯 .
By integrating Greek into your daily family learning, you’re not only preserving cultural heritage but also giving your child a cognitive edge.
About the Colours in Greek
Colours are adjectives and like all adjectives in Greek, they have a grammatical gender. I am using the neutral form for the colours below, meaning I refer to the colours themselves abstractly.
Did you know Greek colour names often come from things seen in nature?
For example, κόκκινο (kókino) means “red,” and it comes from the word κόκκος (kókkos), which means “grain” or “seed.” This is because the ancient Greeks used red dyes made from tiny insects called cochineals, which were like little red seeds.
Κίτρινο (kítrino) means “yellow,” and it comes from the word κίτρο (kítrο), which means “citron,” a type of yellow fruit.
Πράσινο (prásino) means “green,” and it comes from the Greek word for leek, πράσo.
Καστανό (kastanó) means “brown,” and it comes from the word κάστανο (kástano), which means “chestnut.” It is mostly used to describe hair and eye colour. The word καφέ is also used to say “brown”, named after the word for coffee.
Πορτοκαλί (portokalí) means “orange,” and it comes from the word πορτοκάλι (portokáli), which means “orange,” just like the fruit.
Βιολετί (violetí) means “violet,” and it comes from the Italian word βιολέτα (violeta), which means “violet flower.” Μενεξεδί (menexedí) is also used to say “purple”, coming from the Ottoman Turkish term (menekşe) taken in turn by the Persian word for violet (banafše).
Ρόδινο (ródino) is the ancient word for pink, coming from ρόδον which means, of course, rose. Ροζ (roz) is more commonly used today.
Άσπρο (áspro) and λευκό (lefkó) both mean “white.” The latter has left a significant mark in medical terminology. The prefix leuko- (also spelled leuco-) is derived from this word and is used to denote “white” or “white blood cells” specifically.
Μαύρο (mávro) and μέλαν (mélan) mean “dark” or “black.” You can still see this in Greek words like μελάνι (meláni), meaning “ink”, and even English words like melanin and melancholy.
Μπλε (ble) means “blue,” and it’s borrowed from the French word bleu. The ancient Greeks used the word κυανός (kyanós), which referred to a bright blue-green colour. You might recognise kyanós from your printers’ toner settings (cyan). Γαλάζιο (galázio) is word that came later and is very commonly used for light blues, like the sky or the sea.
Wait, so the Ancient Greeks had no dedicated word for “blue”? BLUE?? The colour of Greece?
Not only that, but apparently the traffic lights in Japan turn blue when it’s time to go. Whaaat? If you feel like reading something very cool about the linguistics of colour, I recommend checking this Duolingo article here.
Greek Songs with Colours from the iconic Lilipoupoli Radio Show
Nostalgia alert. You might be familiar with the enchanting world of Εδώ Λιλιπούπολη (eh-THOH lee-lee-POO-po-lee) – a magical radio show that aired in Greece during the late ’70s. This program combined whimsical storytelling with beautiful music and it is a cherished memory for many.
Among the songs there are a few all about colours, bringing them to life through very imaginative (and a bit surreal) stories and wonderful catchy melodies. I have left a few for you here. They’re perfect for introducing your little ones to the Greek language and culture while having dance-offs in your kitchen.
Brown Bear (Brown)
Chrysalifourfouro (Gold)
The Peas’ Ball (Big Fat Pea) (Green)
Flow Yogurt River (White)
Rosa Rosalia (Pink)
Mayonnaise (Yellow)
Words included in the Greek/English Colour Flashcards
In these flashcards I’ve included the most commonly used Greek terms for colours, including some that are loanwords from French. These are perfect for everyday communication and especially helpful for young children learning Greek. Below, you’ll find the vocabulary included in the printable (along with phonetic pronunciations, as per your suggestions, to make learning even easier).
A purple disclaimer 💜
You might notice that I’ve spelled “purple” as μωβ instead of μοβ. Both versions are used in Greek, and while the official spelling these days uses omicron (ο), I prefer using omega (ω) to better reflect the original French pronunciation of “mauve”. It’s a personal touch I enjoy. (In fact I have gone and stylised my own name to Madeau, in an effort to keep the omega alive, confusing everyone in the process 🤦🏽♀️).
| Greek | English |
| Κόκκινο (KΟ-kee-no) | Red |
| Κίτρινο (KΕE-tree-no) | Yellow |
| Μπλε (Bleh) | Blue |
| Πράσινο (PRΑ-see-no) | Green |
| Πορτοκαλί (por-to-ka-LΕE) | Orange |
| Μωβ (Mov) | Purple |
| Καφέ (ka-FÉ) | Brown |
| Ροζ (Roz) | Pink |
| Γκρίζο | Grey |
| Άσπρο (ΑS-pro) | White |
| Χρυσαφί (hree-sa-FEE) | Gold |
| Ασημί (a-see-MEE) | Silver |
| Πολύχρωμο (po-LEE-hro-mo) | Multi-coloured |
| Ασπρόμαυρο (a-SPRO-ma-vro) | Black & White |
| Διαφανές (thee-a-fa-NESS) | Clear / Transparent |
How to Use this File
This is a printable PDF file, sized US Letter (but it will print just fine on an A4 sheet too) and it has 4 cards per page. Print on card stock for a sturdier base and laminate to protect against tears and peanut butter smears (no? just us?). I recommend rounding the corners with a corner punch (or just a pair of scissors). Store in a dedicated box or pouch so they last longer.
Creative Ways to Use these Greek Colour Flashcards
Colour Hunt
Hide the flashcards around your home. Once found, the kids can name an object in the room that matches the colour.
Colour Sorting
Use the flashcards as visual guides, each one corresponding to an empty basket. Provide various coloured objects and toys and let the children sort them in the correct baskets.
Musical Colours
Arrange the flashcards in a circle on the floor. Play music and have the children walk around the circle. When the music stops, they must stand on a flashcard and shout the colour out loud (in whatever language they choose).
Colour Mixed Media
Time to bring a pencil, a crayon and a felt tip with the same colour. Pick a random card and make some nice art with one single colour, but three different media. Why is this interesting in Greek? A pencil is a neutral noun (μολύβι), a felt tip is masculine (μαρκαδόρος), and a crayon is feminine (κηρομπογιά). This way, by prompting the child to bring over the yellow art supplies one by one, you call out yellow using all three grammatical genders, incorporated in a natural conversation.
Draw Three Things
In the same spirit as above, pick a card and have the child draw three things of that colour, but make sure the nouns have a different gender in Greek. For example, for red the prompts could be an apple (μήλο – n), a crab (κάβουρας – m), and a piece of candy (καραμέλα – f).
Greek Colour Flashcards Race (tire them out)
Set up a simple relay race where children pick a flashcard and then find an object in the house that matches the colour. This adds physical activity to learning.
Emotion Association
Discuss how colours can represent emotions. Show a flashcard and have the children express the emotion they thing it corresponds to.
Keep Going!
Raising a bilingual child is a journey with ups and downs. Remember, every time you sing a song, read a story, or have a chat in your heritage language, you’re gifting your child a deeper connection to their roots and (maybe more importantly?) a broader view of the world.
It’s okay if things aren’t perfect, in fact I know they won’t be. It doesn’t matter. Consistency and exposure are great, sure, but making language learning fun and pressure-free is tremendously important too.
You’re doing an amazing job nurturing not just a bilingual speaker, but a culturally rich and adaptable person. Keep it up, and don’t forget to celebrate the small victories!
OK but how do I access the Greek/English Colour Flashcards?
Already a subscriber? Head over to the Greek & Bilingual Printable Library. Inside, you’re find a growing collection of free Greek and bilingual resources designed for families and educators, including this one!
New here? Welcome! To access these exclusive printables, simply subscribe by entering your email address at the end of this post. After that, you’re in!
By subscribing, you’ll gain access to a variety of engaging Greek and bilingual printables, perfect for children learning Greek as a heritage language or in bilingual households. I regularly update the library with new resources to support our own bilingualism journey – and yours! 🩵🌐.
Many thanks for reading, I will catch you next time!
M.
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Related:
Greek Alphabet Tracing Workbook (FREE!)
13 Fun Activities for Families with Kids in Athens (that don’t include ancient stuff)
