The colorative ‘red’ as a reflection of folk worldview (based on paremias from V.I. Dal’s proverbs of the Russian people)

Statement of the problem. Coloratives, as a cultural category, carry significant semantic and emotional-expressive weight, conveying various moral and aesthetic evaluations. However, modern Russian speakers do not always grasp the meanings and evaluations embedded in paremias, including their deeper layers. Therefore, it is essential to study the literal and figurative meanings of folk sayings, as this will help uncover their primary meanings, characterize the national-cultural component, and, in turn, deepen the understanding of the Russian people’s worldview. The purpose of thе article is to analyze the literal and figurative meanings of the colorative ‘red’ in paremias extracted from V.I. Dal’s collection and to identify the nationally specific features of the Russian people’s perception of the world reflected in them. Methodology (materials and methods). The research material consists of 256 paremias from V.I. Dal’s Proverbs of the Russian People containing the colorative ‘red’. The study employs descriptive, component-contextual, and semantic analysis methods. Research results. The analysis reveals that the colorative ‘red’ is ambivalent, capable of expressing both positive and negative evaluations. Its semantic structure is complex, encompassing literal and figurative meanings that reflect the people’s perception of categories such as beauty, daily labor, rest and holidays, hospitality and generosity, responsibility, truthfulness and deceit, wealth and poverty, wit, wisdom, and foolishness. These categories manifest diversely in life: beauty may fade, while practical skills are sometimes prioritized; festive times bring joy, yet hardships persist even then; wealth attracts admiration but is easily lost. Value is ascribed to both objects and people’s moral qualities. Eloquent speech commands are respectful but can also be hurtful and dishonest.