How Do You Spell WATERCOLOUR?

Pronunciation: [wˈɔːtəkˌʌlə] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "watercolour" may seem confusing to some. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈwɔːtəkʌlə/. The first syllable, "wa", is pronounced like the word "war". The middle syllable, "ter", has a short "e" sound and is pronounced like the word "tennis". The final syllable, "colour," is pronounced like the word "color." The spelling comes from the British English spelling of the word, which includes the silent "u" in "colour." Overall, the pronunciation of "watercolour" is relatively easy once you understand its phonetic transcription.

WATERCOLOUR Meaning and Definition

1. Watercolour refers to a painting technique and medium that involves the use of pigments dissolved in water. It is commonly performed on paper or other absorbent surfaces. This versatile artistic method allows for the creation of translucent and luminous artworks.

   Watercolour paints are typically made from finely ground pigments mixed with a gum binder, such as gum arabic. The paints are available in a wide range of colours, both opaque and transparent, which can be easily diluted with water to achieve the desired effect. Artists often employ various brush techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, or dry brushing to create different textures and visual effects.

   Watercolour paintings are characterized by their soft and flowing appearance. Due to the transparency of the medium, the colours can be layered and built up to achieve depth and subtle gradations. Artists utilize the white of the paper to create highlights and rely on the transparent layers to create shadows and tonal variations.

   Watercolour has a long and storied history, dating back to ancient times. It became particularly popular in Western art during the Renaissance and has since evolved into a widely recognized technique. The medium is known for its immediate and spontaneous nature, as it requires quick decision-making and control over the flowing pigments.

   Watercolour is valued for its fluidity, luminosity, and its ability to capture the delicate nuances of light and colour. It is employed in various artistic genres, including landscapes, portraits, still life, and botanical art, among others.

Common Misspellings for WATERCOLOUR

• watrcolor
• watercolo
• qatercolour
• aatercolour
• satercolour
• eatercolour

Etymology of WATERCOLOUR

The word "watercolour" has a relatively straightforward etymology. It combines two words, "water" and "colour", to describe a specific painting medium.

The term "water" comes from the Old English word "wæter", which traces back to the Germanic root "wat-" and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. It refers to the liquid substance that is colorless, transparent, and used for drinking, bathing, and other purposes.

The word "colour" comes from the Old French word "color", which ultimately derives from the Latin word "color". It refers to the property of an object or substance that produces the sensation of vision by reflecting certain wavelengths of light.

Putting the two words together, "watercolour" simply refers to a painting technique that uses pigments mixed with water as a medium for creating art.

Similar spelling words for WATERCOLOUR

• water company,
• water clover,
• water ouzel,
• utricularia,
• watercolor,
• watercolorist,
• watercress,
• watercolous,
• watercannon,
• watercourse,
• watercolourist,
• water cooler,
• watercooler,
• water ice,
• watercraft,
• Utricular,
• Sacculo-utricular,
• water-cooled,
• waterhouse,
• Watterson,
• water scooter,
• water cooler.

Plural form of WATERCOLOUR is WATERCOLOURS