- The nickname "blaugrana" comes from Catalan: blau (blue) and grana (garnet).
- The club has worn these colors since its founding in 1899.
- The exact origin is not proven: several theories coexist.
- The two serious leads: FC Basel and an English school.
- Blue and garnet has become a strong symbol of Catalan identity.
The Barça jersey is one of the most recognizable in the world, but the origin of its blue and garnet remains a mystery. More than 125 years later, no one has truly settled the matter. We'll explain the theories. Let's start with the word itself.
Blaugrana, blue and garnet
The club's nickname, "blaugrana", comes from Catalan: "blau" means blue and "grana" refers to garnet. This is how the club, its players, and its supporters are referred to, in reference to the colors of the home jersey.
Blaugrana = blau (blue) + grana (garnet), in Catalan. In practice, this word has become a shortcut to refer to FC Barcelona itself.
The club, founded in 1899 by Joan Gamper, adopted these colors from its beginnings. And they have never changed on the home jersey. To see how this design evolves season after season, read our article on the Barcelona 2026 jersey.
Where do these colors come from? The theories
This is where it gets complicated: no document formally proves the origin. The club itself acknowledges this uncertainty. Two serious theories compete, plus an anecdote.
Gamper is said to have adopted the colors of FC Basel, a Swiss club where he played before founding Barça.
Arthur Witty, a club director, is said to have proposed the colors of his English school, Merchant Taylors'.
A third, more picturesque hypothesis, evokes a blue and garnet two-tone accountant's pencil used by Gamper. For lack of proof, these stories have coexisted for more than a century. This element of mystery is part of the jersey's charm, much like we explore it in our article on the pink Barça jersey.
Much more than colors
Beyond their origin, blue and garnet have become a powerful identity marker. Under the Franco dictatorship, wearing the blaugrana jersey was one of the few ways to publicly display one's attachment to Catalonia.
Sawa Football designs limited editions in France on the theme of Barcelona, exclusive and nowhere else to be found. Blue and garnet revisited with style.
See Barcelona jerseys →Frequently asked questions
What does blaugrana mean?
Blaugrana is the contraction of two Catalan words: "blau" (blue) and "grana" (garnet). It is the nickname of FC Barcelona, its players, and its supporters, in reference to the colors of the home jersey.
Where do Barça's colors come from?
The exact origin is not proven. Two theories dominate: a tribute to the colors of FC Basel where founder Joan Gamper played, or those of the English school Merchant Taylors' proposed by director Arthur Witty.
How long has the Barça jersey been blue and garnet?
Since the club's founding in 1899. The home jersey has always sported blue and garnet vertical stripes, without ever changing its base in over 125 years of history.
Why is blaugrana a Catalan symbol?
Under the Franco dictatorship, wearing the blaugrana jersey was one of the few ways to show one's attachment to Catalonia. These colors then took on a strong identity, cultural, and political dimension.
Basel, English school, or accountant's pencil: the origin of blue and garnet remains a mystery, and that is its charm. One thing is certain, these colors have become much more than a jersey. And if you're keen on blaugrana, always check the origin of your jersey before buying.
