true blue

Questions

How do you pronounce true blue?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˌtɹu ˈblu/.

What does true blue mean?

Steadfastly faithful or loyal; unwavering in loyalty; staunch, true.

Where does true blue come from?

Endocentric compound of true (“loyal, faithful”, adjective) + blue (“steadfastly faithful or loyal”, adjective). The symbolism of the colour blue as representing constancy, faithfulness, loyalty, and truth may derive from the constant colour of the sky, or the tendency of certain blue dyes to resist fading, especially those made in Coventry. Adjective senses 1.1.2 (“of or pertaining to the Tory, and now the Conservative, political party”) and 1.1.3 (“of or pertaining to the Scottish Presbyterian or Whig political party in the 17th century”) probably both allude to sense 1 (“steadfastly faithful or loyal”). Sense 1.1.2 may also allude to sense 1.1.3 which is older, and sense 1.1.3 may partly allude to the blue colour of the flag of Scotland.

How to pronounce true blue

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “true blue”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌtɹu ˈblu/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “true blue”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “true blue” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.