Red is a vibrant color that symbolizes energy, passion, and daring. There are numerous shades of red, such as crimson, scarlet, maroon, burgundy, and more. It’s easy to get confused by the many variations of red and forget the names of particular shades. People often mix up maroon and burgundy shades, with some believing they are the same and using the terms interchangeably. However, while maroon and burgundy may appear similar, there are differences between the two.
Maroon
Maroon is a deep shade of red that results from mixing brown with red. The word “maroon” comes from the French word “Marron” for chestnut. It was first used to describe a shade of red in English dictionaries in 1791. Maroon is the color of the robes worn by Buddhist monks who follow Vajrayana, as well as the color of many universities and sports teams. Maroon can be described as a pure dark red.
Burgundy
Burgundy is another deep red shade that can be easily confused with maroon. It is, however, lighter than maroon and has a purple tinge due to the addition of blue into the red. Burgundy gets its name from the dark red wine produced in the Burgundy region of France. The term “burgundy” was first used to describe a shade of red in 1881. Interestingly, when used to indicate color, the word “burgundy” is not capitalized. Burgundy is a popular shade for women’s lipsticks and hair colors.
Key Takeaways
- Both maroon and burgundy are deep red shades, but burgundy has a purplish tinge, while maroon has a brownish tinge.
- Burgundy gets its name from the dark red Burgundy wine produced in France.
- Maroon is derived from the French word “Marron,” which means chestnut.
