turchino

deep blue

adjective toor-KEE-noh Rare

Origin: From turchese (turquoise), ultimately from 'Turc' (Turkish) — the colour associated with Turkish faience.

Also means

teal blue

Usage Note

Turchino describes a deep, slightly greenish blue — the colour of Collodi's Blue Fairy (la Fata Turchina) in Pinocchio. It is more literary and old-fashioned than blu or azzurro; modern speakers rarely use it outside references to that story or antique textiles.

Examples

"Il mare al tramonto appare turchino."

Natural Translation

The sea at sunset looks deep blue.

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