Paint by Number in Different Languages: A Comprehensive Multilingual Guide

What Is Paint by Number?

Paint by number (also known as painting by numbers or paint-by-numbers) is a structured painting method in which a canvas or board is divided into pre-marked areas, each labeled with a number corresponding to a specific paint color. Users fill each numbered section with the designated paint, resulting in a complete painting that requires no prior artistic experience. Standard kits typically include a pre-printed numbered canvas, a set of numbered acrylic or oil paints, brushes, and instructions.

The concept originated in the early 1950s in Detroit, Michigan, when Max S. Klein, owner of the Palmer Paint Company, and commercial artist Dan Robbins developed the first commercial paint-by-number kits. Robbins cited Leonardo da Vinci’s teaching method, in which apprentices filled in numbered sections on canvases, as the inspiration for the invention. By the early 1960s, Palmer Paint was exporting kits to Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway, establishing paint by number as a global phenomenon. More than 12 million kits were sold in the United States following the product’s launch in 1951, and by 1955, approximately 20 million had been sold nationwide.

Currently, the term “paint by number” (and its various linguistic equivalents) broadly refers to this hobby and art form, which has experienced significant resurgence through digital platforms and e-commerce. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the terminology for “paint by number” across languages, tracing the linguistic and cultural development of this internationally recognized pastime.

Core English Terminology

Before examining translations, it is important to distinguish the primary English terms used to describe this activity:

• Paint by number – The most common term in American English for both the kit and the activity. Often used attributively, as in “a paint-by-number kit.”

• Painting by numbers – Frequently used in British English and as a more descriptive gerund form. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it simply as “a painting by numbers” and lists translations into multiple languages.

• Color by number / Colour by number – A related but distinct term typically reserved for simpler coloring activities (often in books or on paper) rather than full painting kits on canvas. The Reverso Dictionary lists translations for “color by number” separately from “paint by number,” noting that coloriage numéroté in French refers specifically to coloring rather than painting.

• Digital oil painting – A term used primarily in Chinese-English contexts and some commercial product descriptions to describe the digital processing method used to generate the numbered canvas. This term should not be confused with digital painting executed on a computer or tablet.

Paint by Number in Different Languages: A Complete Translation Table

The following table provides the standard term for “paint by number” in over 20 languages, organized by language family and geographic region. Where multiple terms exist within a single language, both are listed with notes on usage context.

East Asian Languages

In Mandarin Chinese, the term shùzì yóuhuà (数字油画) dominates e-commerce and everyday usage. The modifier shùzì (数字) can mean both “number” and “digital,” so the term carries a dual implication: the painting is created using numbered sections, and the design is processed through digital (computer) technology. The Chinese-language Baidu Encyclopedia describes it as “also known as digital color painting and encoded oil painting, processed through special techniques to turn a painting into lines and number symbols”. Alternative Chinese names include shùzì cǎihuì (数字彩绘, “number/digital color painting”) and biānmǎ yóuhuà (编码油画, “encoded oil painting”), often used interchangeably in commercial contexts. The product description “DIY数字油画” (DIY digital oil painting) is also widespread and reflects the influence of English “DIY” terminology on Chinese retail culture. The short-form character 数画彩绘 (“number painting color drawing”) appears frequently in e-commerce listings.

In Japanese, the term nanbā nurie (ナンバー塗り絵), literally “number coloring picture,” is the commercial standard on platforms such as Amazon Japan and Rakuten. Alternatively, sūji de nuru e (数字で塗る絵, “picture painted by numbers”) is found in more descriptive contexts, while namba peinto (ナンバーペイント, “number paint”) appears as a loanword abbreviation in hobby communities. It is worth noting that the Japanese also use the loanword peinto bai nanbā (ペイントバイナンバー), a phonetic rendering of the English phrase. Notably, nonogram logic puzzles—grid-based puzzles where cells are colored according to numbers to reveal a hidden picture—are also referred to as “Paint by Numbers” in Japanese puzzle culture. These puzzles, known in Japanese as nonogramu (ノノグラム), hanjie (ハンジエ), or pikurosu (ピクロス, Picross), represent a distinct category of numbered visual games and should not be conflated with the painting kit hobby described in this article.

In Korean, the direct loanword peinteu bai neombeo (페인트 바이 넘버) is frequently found on e-commerce sites and in hobby communities. A more natively Korean expression, sutjaro geurineun geurim (숫자로 그리는 그림), literally “picture drawn by numbers,” is also used, especially in instructional or descriptive contexts. Korean paint-by-number kits have proliferated on platforms such as Coupang and Naver Shopping, often featuring Korean cultural themes—traditional temples, K-pop idols, and local landscapes—alongside global motifs.

European Languages

Germanic Languages

In German, Malen nach Zahlen (literally “painting according to numbers”) is the standard term and is so well established that it has achieved cultural-linguistic recognition well beyond hobby circles. The term is used neutrally (das Malen nach Zahlen, neuter gender) and appears on major German retail platforms and hobby magazines. Farben nach Zahlen (“colors by numbers”) is sometimes used for children‘s coloring-book-style activities, while Malen nach Zahlen is reserved for actual painting. German-language kits have maintained strong popularity since their introduction in the 1960s; Germany, along with France and the UK, was among the earliest international markets. German consumers have historically favored landscape and nature themes, a preference reflected in the product catalogs and kit designs marketed to German-speaking audiences.

Dutch uses schilderen op nummer, meaning “painting by number.” The verb schilderen specifically refers to painting with a brush (as opposed to verven, which is more general), distinguishing this activity from simpler coloring exercises.

Swedish employs måla efter nummer (“paint according to number”), while Danish and Norwegian use the cognate mal efter nummer and mal etter nummer, respectively, reflecting the shared Germanic linguistic heritage.

Romance Languages

French distinguishes between peinture par numéros (literally “painting by numbers”), used for the full kit hobby, and coloriage numéroté or coloriage par numéros (“numbered coloring”), reserved for simpler coloring-book activities. This distinction is important in French-language retail contexts, where product categories are clearly separated. France was among the earliest European adopters, with paint-by-number kits exported to France by the early 1960s. French hobbyists have historically gravitated toward romantic and historical themes in their paint-by-number selections.

In Spanish, pintura por números (literally “painting by numbers,” feminine noun) is the standard term. The term is used across Spain and Latin America, with minor regional preferences for phrasing. The related phrase colorear por números (“to color by numbers”) typically refers to coloring-book activities for children.

Italian employs several phrasings: pittura con i numeri (“painting with the numbers”), dipingere con i numeri (“to paint with the numbers”), and the slightly less common pittura a numeri. The noun pittura (painting as an art form) carries a slightly elevated tone compared to colorare con i numeri, which is used for simpler children‘s coloring activities. Italy’s early adoption of paint-by-number kits paralleled that of France and Germany.

For Portuguese, pintura por números (“painting by numbers”) is standard in European Portuguese, while Brazilian Portuguese also uses pintura numerada (“numbered painting”) in commercial nomenclature. The verb form pintar por números (“to paint by numbers”) is also common. Portuguese-language kits enjoy broad support across e-commerce and mobile applications, frequently appearing alongside English, German, and Spanish language options.

Slavic Languages

In Russian, zhívopisʼ po nómeram (жи́вопись по номерам, literally “painting according to numbers,” feminine gender) is the formal designation for the hobby and appears in dictionary translations. The term zhívopisʼ specifically refers to the art of painting, distinguishing it from raskráska po nómeram (раскраска по номерам, “coloring by numbers”), which is used for simpler coloring activities designed primarily for children. Russian paint-by-number kits are widely available on platforms such as Ozon and Wildberries, often marketed under the phrase kartiny po nómeram (картины по номерам, “pictures by numbers”).

Ukrainian mirrors this distinction with zhyvópys za nómeramy (живопис за номерами, painting kits) versus rozmalʹóvka za nómeramy (розмальовка за номерами, coloring activities). Ukrainian-language support appears in multiple paint-by-number applications, reflecting the active Ukrainian hobby market.

Polish uses malowanie po numerach (“painting according to numbers”), Czech employs malování podle čísel (“painting according to numbers”), and Slovak uses maľovanie podľa čísel. These terms are structurally similar and widely understood across their respective markets. Bulgarian uses risúvane po nómera (рисуване по номера, “drawing/painting by numbers”), while Serbian and Croatian use slikanje po brojevima (“painting by numbers”).

Other European Languages

Finnish maalaus numeroiden mukaan is recorded in the Wiktionary entry for “painting by numbers” and translates directly as “painting according to numbers”. Greek zografikí me arithmoús similarly means “painting with numbers.” Turkish employs two common forms: sayılarla boyama (“painting with numbers”) and the more specific sayısına göre boya (“paint according to its number”), the latter documented in Turkish-English dictionaries. Hungarian, Lithuanian, and Latvian each follow a similar structural pattern.

Middle Eastern & Semitic Languages

In Arabic, at-talwīn ḥasab al-arqām (التَّلْوِينُ حَسَبَ الأَرْقَامِ) is the primary dictionary entry and translates literally as “coloring according to the numbers”. An alternative form, ar-rasm bil-arqām (الرسم بالأرقام, “drawing/painting by numbers”), is also used in commercial contexts across the Middle East and North Africa.

Hebrew tzevi‘á lefí misparím (צְבִיעָה לְפִי מִסְפָּרִים) follows the same structure as the Arabic term and is the standard translation found in bilingual dictionaries.

South Asian & Southeast Asian Languages

Hindi uses saṅkhyā ke anusār raṅg bharnā (संख्या के अनुसार रंग भरना), literally “filling color according to numbers,” as the descriptively accurate term. The shorter raṅg saṅkhyā dvārā (रंग संख्या द्वारा, “color by means of numbers”) also appears in dictionary entries. Southeast Asian languages each follow comparable descriptive patterns, with Vietnamese tranh tô màu theo số literally meaning “picture coloring according to numbers.”

Geographic Patterns and Cultural Variations

Early International Spread

Although invented in the United States, paint by number achieved rapid international distribution. By the early 1960s, Palmer Paint was exporting kits to Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway, with catalogs specifically tailored to appeal to buyers in each country. The kits designed for European markets frequently featured images calculated to resonate with local aesthetic tastes.

Thematic Preferences by Country

Cultural preferences have shaped the subject matter favored in different national markets. German enthusiasts have historically preferred landscape and nature scenes, a trend that continues in modern e-commerce offerings. French hobbyists have gravitated toward romantic and historical scenes. In the United Kingdom, both cityscapes and rural landscapes have been perennial favorites. Chinese-language platforms feature a diverse range of themes, from Western Old Master reproductions to traditional Chinese landscapes and calligraphic designs. Korean-language kits often showcase national cultural icons—temples, K-pop celebrity portraits, and iconic Korean scenery. Japanese-language kits prominently feature sakura (cherry blossoms), Mount Fuji, and ukiyo-e inspired designs.

The Andy Warhol Connection

A notable cross-cultural milestone in paint-by-number history occurred in 1962, when Pop Art icon Andy Warhol introduced a series of paintings inspired by the famous DIY art kit, blurring the boundary between mass-produced hobby craft and fine art. This series—exhibited at galleries including Galerie Eva Presenhuber in Zurich—helped cement paint by number as a legitimate subject of artistic commentary and cultural critique across language boundaries.

How to Say “Paint by Number” in Over 20 Languages: A Quick-Reference Summary

For readers seeking a concise reference, the most common translation in each language is listed below in alphabetical order by language:

• Arabic: التلوين حسب الأرقام (at-talwīn ḥasab al-arqām)

• Chinese (Mandarin): 数字油画 (shùzì yóuhuà)

• Czech: Malování podle čísel

• Danish: Mal efter nummer

• Dutch: Schilderen op nummer

• Finnish: Maalaus numeroiden mukaan

• French: Peinture par numéros

• German: Malen nach Zahlen

• Greek: Ζωγραφική με αριθμούς (Zografikí me arithmoús)

• Hebrew: צביעה לפי מספרים (tzevi‘á lefí misparím)

• Hindi: संख्या के अनुसार रंग भरना (saṅkhyā ke anusār raṅg bharnā)

• Hungarian: Festés számokkal

• Italian: Pittura con i numeri

• Japanese: ナンバー塗り絵 (nanbā nurie)

• Korean: 숫자로 그리는 그림 (sutjaro geurineun geurim)

• Norwegian: Mal etter nummer

• Polish: Malowanie po numerach

• Portuguese: Pintura por números

• Romanian: Pictură după numere

• Russian: Живопись по номерам (zhívopisʼ po nómeram)

• Spanish: Pintura por números

• Swedish: Måla efter nummer

• Thai: ภาพวาดตามตัวเลข (phâap wâat dtaam dtua-lêek)

• Turkish: Sayılarla boyama

• Ukrainian: Живопис за номерами (zhyvópys za nómeramy)

• Vietnamese: Tranh tô màu theo số

Conclusion: A Universal Pastime, Spoken Many Ways

Paint by number originated in a single workshop in Detroit and developed into a global activity enjoyed by millions. The linguistic diversity documented in this article demonstrates the extent of the craft’s integration into cultures worldwide. What began as an American marketing innovation, with kits proclaiming “Every man a Rembrandt,” has evolved into an international language of accessible creativity. Regardless of whether it is called Malen nach Zahlen, peinture par numéros, pintura por números, zhívopisʼ po nómeram, shùzì yóuhuà, nanbā nurie, or simply paint by number, the experience is universally recognizable: match the number, apply the paint, and observe a painting come to life.

Understanding these linguistic variations is valuable for travelers, language learners, businesses seeking to market products internationally, researchers examining the globalization of popular culture, and individuals interested in how a simple numbered canvas transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries.