Emotions in English and Bulgarian Idiomatic Expressions with Colours

Vanya Ivanova

University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Gergana Petkova

Medical University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2025-6-3V

Abstract. This article explores how idiomatic expressions featuring the colours black and white convey meaning, emotions, and cultural symbolism in Bulgarian and English. These colours evoke a broad range of connotations, from purity and success to negativity, mystery, and hardship. The study classifies these idioms into groups based on their meanings – positive, negative, neutral, or contradictory – and examines both the similarities and differences between the two languages. While Bulgarian and English share some idioms with overlapping meanings (e.g., „черен пазар“ and “black market”), others highlight unique cultural perspectives and linguistic creativity. Bulgarian idioms often possess a poetic, metaphorical tone, whereas English expressions tend to be more direct, practical, or linked to specific contexts, such as history, trade, or everyday life. These differences reflect the interaction between universal human experiences and distinct cultural influences in shaping language. By analysing these vivid phrases, the article reveals how language captures cultural attitudes towards colour and the emotional nuances associated with them. The analysis ultimately provides insights into the shared human tendency to express meaning through colour symbolism while highlighting the cultural specificities that make each language distinctive.

Keywords: Idiomatic expressions, colour symbolism, Bulgarian language, English language, black and white idioms, cultural differences 

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