The Connotative Meaning of the Colour black in German, English and Macedonian Idiomatic Expressions

This study aims to explore the connotative meanings of the colour black in German, English, and Macedonian idiomatic expressions, focusing on its symbolic significance and cultural associations across different linguistic contexts. It is expected that the colour black will predominantly carry negative connotations, often linked to death, danger, mourning, and pessimism, due to its historical and cultural associations. The research methodology involves collecting idiomatic expressions containing the word black in all three languages, sourced primarily from dictionaries. Idioms were selected based on criteria such as frequency of use, idiomaticity, and cultural relevance. The collected expressions were categorized according to semantic themes, including emotions, fate, morality, misfortune, economy, physical attributes etc. The aim of this study is to uncover how these idioms utilize the colour black to reflect diverse psychological, moral, and cultural perceptions across German, English, and Macedonian-speaking communities.
Keywords: Connotative meaning, Colour symbolism, Black (colour), Idiomatic expressions, Cross-cultural comparison.