لون

Arabic

Root
ل و ن (l w n)
7 terms

Etymology

From Proto-Semitic *lawn, from Proto-Afroasiatic *lwn-; cognate with Egyptian jwn.

Pronunciation

• (noun): IPA^(key): /lawn/
• (verb): IPA^(key): /law.wa.na/

Noun

لَوْن • (lawn) m (plural أَلْوَان (ʔalwān))

1. (countable, uncountable) color

   الزُّهُورُ فِي هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَدِيقَةِ مُتَنَوِّعَةُ ٱلْأَلْوَانِ وَتُضْفِي جَمَالًا خَاصًّا عَلَى ٱلْمَكَانِ.

   az-zuhūru fī hāḏihi l-ḥadīqati mutanawwiʕatu l-ʔalwāni wa-tuḍfī jamālan ḵāṣṣan ʕalā l-makāni.

   The flowers in this garden are diverse in colors and add a special beauty to the place.

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 2:69:

     قَالُوا ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ ٱلنَّاظِرِينَ

     qālū dʕu lanā rabbaka yubayyin lanā mā lawnuhā qāla ʔinnahu yaqūlu ʔinnahā baqaratun ṣafrāʔu fāqiʕun lawnuhā tasurru n-nāẓirīna

     They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color." He said, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright in color – pleasing to the observers.'"

2. type, variety

Declension

Declension of noun لَوْن (lawn)

singular	basic singular triptote
	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	لَوْن lawn	اللَّوْن al-lawn	لَوْن lawn
nominative	لَوْنٌ lawnun	اللَّوْنُ al-lawnu	لَوْنُ lawnu
accusative	لَوْنًا lawnan	اللَّوْنَ al-lawna	لَوْنَ lawna
genitive	لَوْنٍ lawnin	اللَّوْنِ al-lawni	لَوْنِ lawni
dual	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	لَوْنَيْن lawnayn	اللَّوْنَيْن al-lawnayn	لَوْنَيْ lawnay
nominative	لَوْنَانِ lawnāni	اللَّوْنَانِ al-lawnāni	لَوْنَا lawnā
accusative	لَوْنَيْنِ lawnayni	اللَّوْنَيْنِ al-lawnayni	لَوْنَيْ lawnay
genitive	لَوْنَيْنِ lawnayni	اللَّوْنَيْنِ al-lawnayni	لَوْنَيْ lawnay
plural	basic broken plural triptote
	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	أَلْوَان ʔalwān	الْأَلْوَان al-ʔalwān	أَلْوَان ʔalwān
nominative	أَلْوَانٌ ʔalwānun	الْأَلْوَانُ al-ʔalwānu	أَلْوَانُ ʔalwānu
accusative	أَلْوَانًا ʔalwānan	الْأَلْوَانَ al-ʔalwāna	أَلْوَانَ ʔalwāna
genitive	أَلْوَانٍ ʔalwānin	الْأَلْوَانِ al-ʔalwāni	أَلْوَانِ ʔalwāni

Descendants

• Egyptian Arabic: لون (lūn)
• Gulf Arabic: لون (lōn)
• Hijazi Arabic: لون (lōn)
• Maltese: lewn
• Moroccan Arabic: لون (lūn)
• → Swahili: launi

Further reading

• لون on the Arabic Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ar

Verb

لَوَّنَ • (lawwana) II (non-past يُلَوِّنُ (yulawwinu), verbal noun تَلْوِين (talwīn))

1. to colour, to paint

Conjugation

    Conjugation of لَوَّنَ (II, sound, full passive, verbal noun تَلْوِين)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر						تَلْوِين talwīn
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل						مُلَوِّن mulawwin
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول						مُلَوَّن mulawwan
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	لَوَّنْتُ lawwantu	لَوَّنْتَ lawwanta	لَوَّنَ lawwana		لَوَّنْتُمَا lawwantumā	لَوَّنَا lawwanā		لَوَّنَّا lawwannā	لَوَّنْتُمْ lawwantum	لَوَّنُوا lawwanū
	f		لَوَّنْتِ lawwanti	لَوَّنَتْ lawwanat			لَوَّنَتَا lawwanatā			لَوَّنْتُنَّ lawwantunna	لَوَّنَّ lawwanna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُلَوِّنُ ʔulawwinu	تُلَوِّنُ tulawwinu	يُلَوِّنُ yulawwinu		تُلَوِّنَانِ tulawwināni	يُلَوِّنَانِ yulawwināni		نُلَوِّنُ nulawwinu	تُلَوِّنُونَ tulawwinūna	يُلَوِّنُونَ yulawwinūna
	f		تُلَوِّنِينَ tulawwinīna	تُلَوِّنُ tulawwinu			تُلَوِّنَانِ tulawwināni			تُلَوِّنَّ tulawwinna	يُلَوِّنَّ yulawwinna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُلَوِّنَ ʔulawwina	تُلَوِّنَ tulawwina	يُلَوِّنَ yulawwina		تُلَوِّنَا tulawwinā	يُلَوِّنَا yulawwinā		نُلَوِّنَ nulawwina	تُلَوِّنُوا tulawwinū	يُلَوِّنُوا yulawwinū
	f		تُلَوِّنِي tulawwinī	تُلَوِّنَ tulawwina			تُلَوِّنَا tulawwinā			تُلَوِّنَّ tulawwinna	يُلَوِّنَّ yulawwinna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُلَوِّنْ ʔulawwin	تُلَوِّنْ tulawwin	يُلَوِّنْ yulawwin		تُلَوِّنَا tulawwinā	يُلَوِّنَا yulawwinā		نُلَوِّنْ nulawwin	تُلَوِّنُوا tulawwinū	يُلَوِّنُوا yulawwinū
	f		تُلَوِّنِي tulawwinī	تُلَوِّنْ tulawwin			تُلَوِّنَا tulawwinā			تُلَوِّنَّ tulawwinna	يُلَوِّنَّ yulawwinna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		لَوِّنْ lawwin			لَوِّنَا lawwinā				لَوِّنُوا lawwinū
	f		لَوِّنِي lawwinī							لَوِّنَّ lawwinna
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	لُوِّنْتُ luwwintu	لُوِّنْتَ luwwinta	لُوِّنَ luwwina		لُوِّنْتُمَا luwwintumā	لُوِّنَا luwwinā		لُوِّنَّا luwwinnā	لُوِّنْتُمْ luwwintum	لُوِّنُوا luwwinū
	f		لُوِّنْتِ luwwinti	لُوِّنَتْ luwwinat			لُوِّنَتَا luwwinatā			لُوِّنْتُنَّ luwwintunna	لُوِّنَّ luwwinna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُلَوَّنُ ʔulawwanu	تُلَوَّنُ tulawwanu	يُلَوَّنُ yulawwanu		تُلَوَّنَانِ tulawwanāni	يُلَوَّنَانِ yulawwanāni		نُلَوَّنُ nulawwanu	تُلَوَّنُونَ tulawwanūna	يُلَوَّنُونَ yulawwanūna
	f		تُلَوَّنِينَ tulawwanīna	تُلَوَّنُ tulawwanu			تُلَوَّنَانِ tulawwanāni			تُلَوَّنَّ tulawwanna	يُلَوَّنَّ yulawwanna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُلَوَّنَ ʔulawwana	تُلَوَّنَ tulawwana	يُلَوَّنَ yulawwana		تُلَوَّنَا tulawwanā	يُلَوَّنَا yulawwanā		نُلَوَّنَ nulawwana	تُلَوَّنُوا tulawwanū	يُلَوَّنُوا yulawwanū
	f		تُلَوَّنِي tulawwanī	تُلَوَّنَ tulawwana			تُلَوَّنَا tulawwanā			تُلَوَّنَّ tulawwanna	يُلَوَّنَّ yulawwanna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُلَوَّنْ ʔulawwan	تُلَوَّنْ tulawwan	يُلَوَّنْ yulawwan		تُلَوَّنَا tulawwanā	يُلَوَّنَا yulawwanā		نُلَوَّنْ nulawwan	تُلَوَّنُوا tulawwanū	يُلَوَّنُوا yulawwanū
	f		تُلَوَّنِي tulawwanī	تُلَوَّنْ tulawwan			تُلَوَّنَا tulawwanā			تُلَوَّنَّ tulawwanna	يُلَوَّنَّ yulawwanna

Chadian Arabic

Root
ل و ن
1 term

Etymology

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Noun

لون • (lōn) m (plural ألوان (ʔalwān))

1. color

References

• Heath, Judith, Mahadi, Mahamat Zene (2021) Lexique Arabe Tchadien-Français‎^[1] (in French), 11th edition, N'Djamena, Chad: SIL Chad, page 89

Egyptian Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Noun

لون • (lūn) m (plural ألوان (alwā́n))

1. color

See also

Colors in Egyptian Arabic · الوان (ʔalwān) (layout · text)

ابيض (ʔabyɑḍ)	رمادى (rumādi)	اسود (ʔiswid)
احمر (ʔaḥmar); لعلى (laʕli)	برتقانى (burtuʔāni); بنى (bunni)	اصفر (ʔaṣfar); سمنى (samni)
لمونى (lamūni)	اخضر (ʔaḵḍar)	كرمبى (kurumbi); زيتى (zēti)
فروزى (farūzi); جنزارى (ginzāri)	لازوردى (lazawardi)	ازرق (ʔazraʔ)
بنفسجى (banafsigi); نيلى (nīli)	ارجوانى (ʔurguwāni); بتنجانى (bitingāni)	بمبى (bambi)

Gulf Arabic

Etymology 1

Root
ل و ن
1 term

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /loːn/

Noun

لون • (lōn) m (dual لونين (lōnēn), plural الوان (alwān))

1. color

Derived terms

• شلون (šlōn, “how”) (univerbation of شنو (šinu, “what”) + لون (lōn).)

Etymology 2

Root
ل و ن
1 term

From Arabic لَوَّنَ (lawwana).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ləwːən/

Verb

لَوَّن • (lawwan) II (non-past يلون (ylawwin))

1. to color, to colorize

Hijazi Arabic

Root
ل و ن
1 term

Etymology 1

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /loːn/, [lo̞ːn]

Noun

لون • (lōn) m (plural ألوان (ʔalwān))

1. color

Etymology 2

From Arabic لَوَّنَ (lawwana).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /law.wan/

Verb

لَوَّن • (lawwan) II (non-past يِلَوِّن (yilawwin))

1. to color, to paint

Conjugation

Conjugation of لون

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	لونت (lawwant)	لونت (lawwant)	لون (lawwan)		لوننا (lawwanna)	لونتوا (lawwantu)	لونوا (lawwanu)
	f		لونتي (lawwanti)	لونت (lawwanat)
non-past	m	ألون (ʔalawwin)	تلون (tilawwin)	يلون (yilawwin)		نلون (nilawwin)	تلونوا (tilawwinu)	يلونوا (yilawwinu)
	f		تلوني (tilawwini)	تلون (tilawwin)
imperative	m		لون (lawwin)				لونوا (lawwinu)
	f		لوني (lawwini)

Moroccan Arabic

Root
ل و ن
1 term

Etymology 1

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /luːn/

Noun

لون • (lūn) m (plural ألوان (ʔalwān) or لوان (lwān))

1. color

Etymology 2

From Arabic لَوَّنَ (lawwana).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /law.wan/

Verb

لون • (lawwan) II (non-past يلون (ylawwan))

1. to color

Conjugation

Conjugation of لون

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	لوّنت (lawwant)	لوّنتي (lawwanti)	لوّن (lawwan)		لوّننا (lawwanna)	لوّنتوا (lawwantu)	لوّنوا (lawwnu)
	f			لوّنت (lawwnāt)
non-past	m	نلوّن (nlawwan)	تلوّن (tlawwan)	يلوّن (ylawwan)		نلوّنوا (nlawwnu)	تلوّنوا (tlawwnu)	يلوّنوا (ylawwnu)
	f		تلوّني (tlawwni)	تلوّن (tlawwan)
imperative	m		لوّن (lawwan)				لوّنوا (lawwnu)
	f		لوّني (lawwni)

Punjabi

Alternative forms

• نُوݨ (nūṇ) (rare, dialectal)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Sanskrit लवण (lavaṇa)

Prakrit 𑀮𑁄𑀡 (loṇa)

Punjabi لُوݨ (lūṇ)

Inherited from Old Punjabi لوݨ (lōṇ /⁠lvn⁠/), from Prakrit 𑀮𑁄𑀡 (loṇa), from Sanskrit लवण (lavaṇá) (see for cognates).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Punjabi) IPA^(key): /luːɳᵊ/
  • (dialectal) IPA^(key): /luːnᵊ/

Noun

لُوݨ • (lūṇ) m (Gurmukhi spelling ਲੂਣ)

1. table salt

   Synonym: نَمَک (namak)

   • 1988, Altaf Gauhar, تَحْرِیریں چَنْد [taḥrīreṉ cand], Islamabad, →OCLC, page 28:

     میری روٹی وچ لُون نئیں ہوندا

     merī roṭī vicc lūṇ na'īṉ hondā

     My chapattis don't [usually] have salt

2. (chemistry) salt

Declension

Declension of لون

	singular	plural
direct	لُوݨ (lūṇ)	لُوݨ (lūṇ)
oblique	لُوݨ (lūṇ)	لُوݨاں (lūṇāṉ)
vocative	لُوݨا (lūṇā)	لُوݨو (lūṇo)
ablative	لُوݨوں (lūṇoṉ)	لُوݨاں (lūṇāṉ)
locative	لُوݨے (lūṇe)	لُوݨِیں (lūṇīṉ)
instrumental	لُوݨوں (lūṇoṉ)	–

Derived terms

• لُوݨا (lūṇā, “salty”)

Further reading

• Iqbal, Salah ud-Din (2002) “لُون”, in vaḍḍī panjābī lughat‎ (in Punjabi), Lahore: ʻAzīz Pablisharz
• Bashir, Kanwal (2012) “لون”, in Punjabi-English Dictionary, Hyattsville, MD: Dunwoody Press
• “ਲੂਣ”, in Punjabi-English Dictionary, Patiala: Punjabi University, 2025
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “lavaṇá”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology 1

From Arabic لَوْن (lawn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /loːn/, [loːn]

• Audio (Ramallah):

  (file)

Noun

لون • (lōn) m (plural ألوان (alwān))

1. color
2. style, genre

See also

Colors in South Levantine Arabic · ألوان (ʔalwān, “colors”) (layout · text)

أبيض (ʔabyaḍ, “white”)	رمادي (ramādi, “grey”), سكني (sakani, “grey”)	أسود (ʔaswad, “black”)
أحمر (ʔaḥmar, “red”), خمري (ḵamri, “crimson”)	بردقاني (burdʔāni, “orange”); بني (binni, “brown”)	أصفر (ʔaṣfar, “yellow”)
	أخضر (ʔaḵḍar, “green”)
		أزرق (ʔazraʔ, “blue”), كحلي (kuḥli, “navy”)
بنفسجي (banafsaji, “violet”)	نهدي (nahdi, “purple”), ليلكي (lēlaki, “lilac”)	زهري (zahri, “pink”)

Etymology 2

لو (law) +‎ إن (ʔinn-).

Conjunction

لونّـ • (lawenn-)

1. if (hypothetical condition; followed by a suffix pronoun)

   Synonym: لو (law)

2. if only (followed by a suffix pronoun)

Inflection

Inflection of لون

base form			لونّـ (lawenn-)
Personal-pronoun including forms
	singular		plural
	m	f
1st person	لونّي (lawenni)		لونّا (lawenna)
2nd person	لونّك (lawennak)	لونّك (lawennek)	لونكم (lawenkom)
3rd person	لونّه (lawenno)	إلونها (lawenha)	لونهم (lawenhom)

See also

• إذا (ʔiza, “if”), إن (ʔin, “if”), إنكنّـ (ʔin-kann-, “if”)
• ياريت (yārēt, “if only (whish, hope)”)