If you are talking about the softer hues of pink, yellow, and green, those would be pastels:
From Wikipedia:
Pastels or pastel colors are the family of colors which, when described in the HSV color space, have high value and low to intermediate saturation. The colors of this family are usually described as «soothing», «soft», «near neutral», «milky», «washed out», «desaturated», lacking strong chromatic content.
Pink, mauve, and baby blue are typical pastel colors.
However, since you mentioned «bright» colors, I suspect you are referring to neons:
How many colors in Russian are you familiar with? In Russia, the colors are often seen as a symbol of something. For example, white is typically associated with light and purity, while black signifies night or death. In Russian culture, there are many sayings about what different colors mean. The color spectrum is a beautiful thing. It has so many different colors that it’s hard to pick just one favorite.
Some people like the blues, some prefer the pinks and purples, and others love reds or yellows. Russian culture has been known to use color symbolism to convey complex messages and feelings, including love, respect, honor, and victory. Let’s dig into a comprehensive list of colors in Russian at the very beginning of our article.
Words For Colors In Russian
Do you know how many colors there are in the world? I don’t think anyone knows the exact amount. Russia has a lot of different hues, but it is important to have a basic understanding of the most common ones, so we’ll start with those for now. Have a look at the table below for a set of Russian words used to describe basic colors.
English | Russian |
red | красный |
yellow | желтый |
blue | синий |
green | зеленый |
white | белый |
black | чернить |
purple | фиолетовый |
pink | розовый |
orange | апельсин |
beige | бежевый |
gray | серый |
light | светлый |
dark | темно |
neon | неоновые |
electric | ядерный |
acid | кислотные |
bright | яркий |
dull color | приглушённые цвет |
Different Shades Of Russian Colors
Colors are beautiful, and having the ability to manipulate them to visually convey a certain feeling or emotion is fascinating. There are millions of different shades of colors out there, each serving different purposes and creating different looks. From neon green to electric white, there are several ways to express different shades of colors in Russian.
You can do exactly that and express these differences by using the adjectives that you can find below.
1. Adjectives For Light And Dark Colors
The adjective ‘light’ is ‘светлый’ in Russian, while ‘dark’ is ‘тёмный,’ but you can’t just add them in a sentence like that.
Instead, you have to use the ‘o + hyphen’ structure.
For example, light green becomes ‘светло-зелёный‘ and dark yellow ‘тёмно-желтый.’
2. Adjectives For Bright Colors
In Russian, we can describe bright colors as “яркий. “
Once again, you have to follow the ‘o + hyphen’ rule for the first adjective, while the second one can stand alone.
You can also use the word “кричащий” (screaming), to describe a color that’s very intense.
3. Adjectives For Soft Colors
If any colors are particularly dull or boring, you’d use “приглушённые” to describe them.
You would say something like “приглушенный зеленый цвет” to describe a light green flower.
4. Other Shades And Tones
In Russian, the word “неоновые” is used to describe neon colors, which are very bright and intense at the same time.
However, electric colors are described using the adjective “ядерный“, which translates to “nuclear.”
There’s also an adjective used to describe acid colors – “кислотные.”
All of the adjectives mentioned above can bestand-alone, or with “o + hyphen.”
Color Symbolism In Russian
Russia has a long history of using color symbolism and associating colors with different feelings or emotions. For example, in the old days white was considered to be the color of death and funerals, while black was associated with mourning. Red is often used for warmth and happiness, but it can also symbolize anger and blood. Colors in Russian
Blue (синий)
The color blue is often associated with the sky and cleanliness. It also symbolizes power, stability, confidence, and intelligence. Blue has long been a favorite of Russians. Blue symbolizes clarity in Russian culture and is also one of the colors found on the Russian flag.
Throughout history, the blue color was often associated with the nobility in Russia, who were considered “blue-blooded,” and it became a symbol of authority with time. For example, the uniforms of police officers are often dark-blue.
Yellow (жёлтый)
In Russian culture, the color yellow mostly has a negative connotation. Yellow is often used to signify separation, betrayal, or infidelity, so unless you want to have an argument or abandon someone forever – make sure you never give them a bunch of yellow flowers in Russia.
Red (красный)
This is the color that has the most positive connotations among all other colors in Russian culture. The main square in Moscow is named the Red Square, and it’s believed that it got that name because of its beauty. In Russian, the word “beautiful” (krasivy) and the word “red”(krasny) have the same root and are very close indeed. Red symbolizes power, strength, and courage in Russian culture.
It is also commonly associated with the Communist Party. For example, the flag of the Soviet Union was red with a gold hammer and sickle on it, and during this period, Russia was communist. Apart from that, red also symbolizes love in Russian culture. If you give someone a bouquet with red roses, they will know that you love them.
Green (зелёный)
Green is associated with nature, life, and fertility. There’s a popular antiseptic in Russia, called зелёнка due to its brilliant green color, used to treat burns and bruises. Green is also commonly associated with various herbs, so the word “зелень” indicates cooking herbs and vegetation.
Orange (оранжевый)
The next one in the rainbow spectrum, this bright, sunny color, represents the opposition in Russian culture. It only acquired this ideological meaning after the so-called Orange Revolution in Ukraine about ten years ago.
Learn Russian With Ling App
While you may be an accomplished English, Korean, or Thai native speaker, if you’re looking to expand your vocabulary and learn a new language, don’t despair if Russian is not your native tongue. One trick can make things easier: using Ling App by Simya Solutions.
This way, you can take control of your language learning process and learn to speak Russian the way you learn any other subject. The app provides a complete Russian language learning experience by teaching Russian using a personalized approach in a gamified environment.
It’s available for both iOS and Android, so the only thing you have to do is to choose a platform of your preference. In addition to that, visiting our blog and reading about Russian people and their culture is something I highly recommend if you want to become a master of Russian.
Also, please check out our other related posts, like the vocab for colors in Japanese and Korean. That would be all for this article, though, so go ahead, download the app and start learning Russian with us!
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Vocabulary Builder Courses
Here’s a question – do you know what color these words describe: maroon, fuchsia, hazel, and ivory?
You probably learned simple colors like red, yellow, and blue in your first year of English… but the language has a lot more color words than these basic ones!
Today you’ll learn 12 interesting vocabulary words for different colors.
One quick note: If you search online, you’ll often find very long lists of color words – but many of these are NOT in used in everyday English. So you might see 50 terms for various shades of red – but please don’t try to memorize all of those. Those hundreds of color words are typically used to describe different colors of paint, nail polish, or makeup, but they are not common in daily life.
The words I’ll teach you today are some of the more common ones. Let’s get started.
Maroon
Maroon is a dark red color, like this:
Beige & tan
Tan is a light brown:
And beige is an extremely light brown:
Turquoise & teal
Turquoise is a color in between blue and green:
And teal is a darker version of it:
ivory
The noun ivory refers to the material of an elephant’s tusks, and it also refers to their color – a slightly yellowish-white:
lavender
Lavender is a flower that has a nice smell, and it also describes the color – a light purple:
fuchsia
The color fuchsia is a bright color, somewhere between red and purple:
amber
Amber is the name of a hardened substance that comes from trees – and also the color of yellow-brown.
coral
Coral is a pink-orange-red color that is characteristic of the substance that grows under the sea.
auburn
This color is a dark brown with hints of red/orange. It is typically used to describe hair of this color.
hazel
Hazel is a golden-brown color that is typically used to describe eyes of this color.
Expanding your vocabulary is a great way to become more fluent in English – because when you know more words, you can express yourself better and say exactly what you want to say.
I created two great courses to help you improve your vocabulary – they’re called the Vocabulary Builder Course Level 1 and Level 2. You’ll learn and practice more than 1000 useful words in each level.
Level 1 is good for learning the basics, the essential English words we use to talk about everyday objects, activities, hobbies, and more. And Level 2 is more advanced – you’ll learn words that will help you express more complex ideas.
Asked by: Takako Goerges
asked in category: books and literature Last Updated: 1st November, 2020
Words related to bright
golden, glistening, vivid, brilliant, shimmering, radiant, sunny, dazzling, blazing, sparkling, luminous, shiny, intense, flashing, silvery, pleasant, mild, translucent, sharp, smart.
Read rest of the answer. Moreover, how do you describe a bright color?
Let’s take a look:
- Ablaze — Radiant with bright color.
- Beaming — Bright; shining.
- Bold — Bright; vivid.
- Bright — Brilliant in color.
- Brilliant — Vivid; intense.
- Colorful — Full of vivid colors.
- Dappled — Having a spotted surface.
- Deep — Dark; rich.
Beside above, what does it mean to be bright? Being described ‘bright‘ is a short cut to saying above average, quick thinking, quick to pick up new ideas, quick to make connections between abstract ideas. They are also usually articulate and personable.
Also to know is, what is a synonym for bright future?
future bright
- bright future. exp.
- brighter future. exp.
- shining future. exp.
- brilliant future. exp.
- golden future. exp.
- glittering future. exp.
- better future. exp.
- future. n.
Is Beautiful an adjective?
Beautifully is an adverb which describes a verb. Beautiful is an adjective which describes a noun. In your example, you’re describing the «you», a noun, so beautiful is the one to use. You’re not describing the verb «looking» or the act of looking, so the adverb is not used.
Find creative ways to describe colors! These words lists infuse your writing with unique words for red, yellow, blue, and every color of the rainbow.
- Color Adjectives
- Color Nouns
- Color Verbs
- White Words
- Yellow Words
- Orange Words
- Red Words
- Pink Words
- Purple Words
- Blue Words
- Green Words
- Brown Words
- Gray Words
- Black Words
- Color Similes
- ablaze
- ablazing
- accented
- achromatic
- ashen
- ashy
- atomic
- beaming
- bi-color
- blazing
- bleached
- bleak
- blended
- blotchy
- bold
- brash
- bright
- brilliant
- burnt
- checkered
- chromatic
- classic
- clean
- colored
- colorful
- colorless
- complementing
- contrasting
- cool
- coordinating
- crisp
- dappled
- dark
- dayglo
- deep
- delicate
- digital
- dim
- dirty
- matte
- medium
- mellow
- milky
- mingled
- mixed
- monochromatic
- motley
- mottled
- muddy
- multicolored
- multihued
- murky
- natural
- neutral
- opalescent
- opaque
- pale
- pastel
- patchwork
- patchy
- patterned
- perfect
- picturesque
- plain
- primary
- prismatic
- psychedelic
- pure
- radiant
- reflective
- rich
- royal
- ruddy
- rustic
- satiny
- saturated
- secondary
- shaded
- dotted
- drab
- dreary
- dull
- dusty
- earth
- electric
- eye-catching
- faded
- faint
- festive
- fiery
- flashy
- flattering
- flecked
- florescent
- frosty
- full-toned
- glistening
- glittering
- glowing
- harsh
- hazy
- hot
- hued
- icy
- illuminated
- incandescent
- intense
- interwoven
- iridescent
- kaleidoscopic
- lambent
- light
- loud
- luminous
- lusterless
- lustrous
- majestic
- shining
- shiny
- shocking
- showy
- smoky
- soft
- solid
- somber
- soothing
- sooty
- sparkling
- speckled
- stained
- streaked
- streaky
- striking
- strong neutral
- subtle
- sunny
- swirling
- tinged
- tinted
- tonal
- toned
- traditional
- translucent
- transparent
- two-tone
- undiluted
- uneven
- uniform
- vibrant
- vivid
- wan
- warm
- washed-out
- waxen
- wild
- accent
- brightness
- brilliance
- cast
- chroma
- CMYK
- color
- color swatch
- color wheel
- colorant
- coloration
- colour
- compound colors
- luminosity
- luster
- monotone
- opacity
- opalescence
- Pantone
- pigment
- pigmentation
- pop of color
- primary color
- purity
- radiance
- rainbow
- dimension
- dye
- finish
- glaze
- gleam
- glimmer
- glint
- glistening
- gradation
- gradient
- hue
- incandescence
- iridescence
- saturation
- shade
- shadow
- sheen
- shimmer
- shine
- spectrum
- swatch
- tinge
- tint
- tone
- undertone
- value
- accent
- appear
- attract
- balance
- blare
- blaze
- bleach
- blend
- brighten
- bring out
- burn
- captivate
- cast
- catch the eye
- clash
- color
- combine
- harmonize
- highlight
- illuminate
- infuse
- juxtapose
- light
- lighten
- match
- merge
- mix
- morph
- overlap
- paint
- pair with
- pop
- radiate
- redden
- contrast
- coordinate
- darken
- dye
- embellish
- emit
- fade
- flash
- flatter
- fleck
- flow
- flush
- glare
- glaze
- gleam
- glimmer
- glisten
- saturate
- shade
- shimmer
- shine
- smudge
- sparkle
- speckle
- spill
- stain
- stand out
- streak
- swirl
- tint
- trace
- transform
- weave
- alabaster white
- albino white
- antique white
- arctic white
- argent white
- ashen white
- beige
- birch
- biscuit white
- bisque
- blanched almond
- blanched white
- bleached white
- blonde
- bone white
- buff
- camel
- canvas beige
- chalk white
- coconut white
- marshmallow white
- milk white
- mocassin
- mother-of-pearl
- mushroom
- Navajo white
- neutral white
- nude
- oatmeal white
- off-white
- old lace white
- opal
- paper white
- pearl white
- piano key white
- polar white
- porcelain
- powder white
- pure white
- raw cotton white
- cotton white
- cream
- diamond
- dove white
- ecru
- eggshell white
- flax
- flour white
- fog white
- French beige
- frosted white
- ghost white
- goose white
- hemp
- ivory white
- lace white
- latte
- light tan
- lily white
- linen
- sandstone
- seashell white
- sheep white
- sheet white
- shell white
- shining star white
- silvery white
- smoky beige
- snow white
- solid white
- spotless white
- sugar white
- toothpaste white
- vanilla
- waxen white
- wedding white
- whey
- white
- white chocolate
- white smoke
- amber
- banana yellow
- bleached blond
- blond
- buff
- bumblebee yellow
- butter yellow
- buttercup
- butternut squash yellow
- butterscotch
- cadmium yellow
- canary yellow
- champagne
- Chardonnay
- citrine
- corn yellow
- cornsilk yellow
- cream
- lemon sherbet
- lemon yellow
- linen
- lion yellow
- maize
- marigold yellow
- mellow yellow
- metallic gold
- mimosa yellow
- mustard yellow
- ochre
- olive
- omelette yellow
- palamino
- papaya
- parakeet yellow
- pencil yellow
- peroxide blond
- daffodil yellow
- dandelion
- duckling yellow
- egg yolk yellow
- electric yellow
- flax
- flesh tone
- French fry yellow
- gold
- gold yellow
- golden bronze
- golden yellow
- goldenrod
- highlighter yellow
- honey yellow
- lemon chiffon
- lemon drop
- lemon meringue
- popcorn yellow
- raincoat yellow
- saffron
- school bus yellow
- squash yellow
- straw yellow
- sunflower yellow
- sunglow yellow
- sunset yellow
- sunshine yellow
- taxi cab yellow
- Titanium yellow
- topaz
- vanilla
- wheat
- yellow
- yolk yellow
- amber
- apricot
- basketball orange
- blood orange
- bourbon
- burnt orange
- butterfly orange
- candlelight orange
- candy corn
- cantaloupe orange
- carnelian
- carotene
- carrot orange
- cheddar orange
- cinnamon
- mango
- marigold orange
- melon orange
- neon orange
- old gold
- orange
- orange juice
- orange peel
- orange sherbet
- orange soda
- orange-red
- papaya
- peach
- persimmon
- pumpkin orange
- copper penny
- coral
- dark orange
- dark salmon
- dayglo orange
- ember orange
- fall leaves orange
- flame orange
- ginger orange
- gold
- golden orange
- goldfish orange
- ice pop orange
- light orange
- light salmon
- rust orange
- safety orange
- saffron
- salamander orange
- starfish orange
- sunrise orange
- tabby
- tangelo
- tangerine
- tawny
- tiger orange
- tiger stripe orange
- traffic cone orange
- yam orange
- alizarin crimson
- amaranth
- apple red
- auburn
- autumn leaf red
- barn red
- beet red
- blood red
- blush
- Bordeaux red
- bougainvillea
- bourbon
- brick red
- bright red
- burgundy
- burnt sienna
- candy apple red
- cardinal red
- carmine
- carnelian
- cerise
- cherry red
- chestnut red
- chili pepper red
- cinnabar
- magenta
- magma red
- maroon
- orange-red
- paprika
- pepperoni red
- persimmon red
- pink red
- pomegranate red
- poppy red
- rabbit eye red
- radish red
- rare steak red
- raspberry red
- red
- red apple
- red berry
- red carpet
- red licorice
- red lipstick
- red nose
- red pepper
- red potato
- red rose
- red velvet
- copper
- coral red
- crab red
- cranberry red
- crimson red
- dark cerise
- dark red
- deep pink
- devil red
- faded rose
- fire engine red
- fire red
- fire truck red
- flame red
- florid red
- fruit punch red
- garnet red
- geranium red
- henna
- hibiscus red
- hot pink
- Indian red
- ketchup red
- ladybug red
- lipstick red
- red wine vinegar
- redwood
- rosewood
- rouge
- ruby red
- russet red
- rust red
- sangria red
- scarlet
- sports car red
- stop light red
- stop sign red
- strawberry red
- tawny port red
- tawny red
- terra cotta
- tomato bisque
- tomato red
- torch red
- vermillion
- watermelon flesh
- wine red
- winter apple red
- amaranth
- apricot
- ash rose
- baby cheeks pink
- baby pink
- bacon pink
- ballerina pink
- ballet pink
- ballet slipper pink
- begonia
- blush pink
- bougainvillea
- bubblegum pink
- cameo
- carmine
- carnation pink
- cerise
- cherry blossom
- cherry blossom pink
- conch pink
- orchid
- pale pink
- pastel pink
- peach
- peach puff
- peony pink
- Pepto Bismal pink
- Persian rose
- petunia pink
- pig pink
- pink
- pink Cadillac
- pink champagne
- pink cheeks
- pink diamond
- pink grapefruit
- pink lemonade
- pink sherbet
- polka dot pink
- powder pink
- cotton candy
- cranberry
- cupcake pink
- dayglo pink
- dusty rose
- eraser pink
- flamingo pink
- flesh
- flesh-colored
- fuchsia
- grapefruit pink
- hibiscus pink
- hot pink
- jellyfish pink
- lavender pink
- light plum
- lipstick pink
- magenta
- misty rose
- mulberry
- rose
- rose petal
- rose pink
- rose quartz
- rosy red
- ruby
- ruddy pink
- sand pink
- seashell pink
- shocking pink
- soft pink
- strawberry jam
- strawberry milkshake
- sunset pink
- tea rose
- thistle pink
- tongue pink
- tulip pink
- turnip pink
- worm pink
- amethyst
- aubergine
- beet purple
- bilberry purple
- blackberry
- blackcurrant
- blue violet
- blueberry
- brandywine
- bruise purple
- byzantium
- cerise
- claret
- Concord grape
- currant
- dahlia
- magenta
- mauve
- monster purple
- mulberry
- opal purple
- orchid purple
- pale plum
- pansy purple
- passionfruit purple
- pastel purple
- periwinkle
- plum
- prune
- purple
- purple cabbage
- purple jam
- dark raspberry
- dark violet
- eggplant purple
- fandango
- grape crush
- grape jam purple
- grape jelly purple
- grape purple
- heliotrope
- hyacinth
- inky purple
- iris purple
- juice purple
- lavender
- lavender blush
- lilac purple
- quartz
- raisin purple
- raspberry
- rhubarb purple
- royal purple
- thistle
- true purple
- turnip purple
- violet
- violet red
- wild berry purple
- wild grape
- wine
- wisteria
- alice blue
- aqua blue
- aquamarine
- azure blue
- baby blue
- blue belle
- blue ice
- blue jean blue
- blue-green
- blueberry
- bluebird blue
- bluebonnet blue
- cadet blue
- Caribbean blue
- Caribbean turquoise
- cerulean
- cobalt
- cornflower
- cyan
- marlin blue
- midnight blue
- navy blue
- neon blue
- nighttime blue
- ocean blue
- Pacific blue
- pale blue
- pastel blue
- peacock blue
- police officer blue
- pool blue
- powder blue
- Prussian blue
- ribbon blue
- robin egg
- royal blue
- sapphire blue
- sky blue
- dark slate blue
- deep sky blue
- denim blue
- Dodger blue
- dolphin blue
- electric blue
- frostbite blue
- glacial blue
- heather
- iceberg blue
- icy blue
- imperial blue
- indigo blue
- inky blue
- jay blue
- lake blue
- lapis
- lapis lazuli
- light blue
- snowflake blue
- stained glass blue
- steel blue
- stone blue
- summer sky blue
- surf blue
- swimming pool
- teal blue
- Tiffany blue
- true blue
- turquoise
- ultra blue
- ultramarine
- verdigris
- violet blue
- washed denim blue
- whale blue
- absinthe
- algae green
- alligator green
- apple green
- aqua
- army green
- artichoke green
- asparagus green
- avocado green
- bay leaf green
- bluegrass green
- boxwood green
- broccoli green
- cabbage green
- cactus green
- caterpillar green
- celery green
- chartreuse
- chive green
- chlorophyll green
- clover green
- crocodile green
- cucumber green
- cyan
- jade green
- jadestone
- jungle green
- Kelly green
- kelp green
- Kermit green
- key lime green
- leaf green
- leprechaun green
- lettuce green
- lichen green
- light cyan
- lime green
- lizard green
- melon rind green
- metallic mint
- mint green
- moss green
- myrtle green
- neon green
- olive drab
- olive green
- parrot green
- pea green
- dark khaki green
- dark olive green
- dollar bill green
- drab olive
- eel green
- emerald green
- evergreen
- fern green
- forest green
- frog green
- Granny Smith apple
- grass green
- grasshopper green
- green
- green apple
- green olive
- green pepper
- green tea
- green-yellow
- holly
- honeydew green
- hunter green
- iceberg lettuce
- iguana green
- pear green
- Persian green
- pickle green
- pine green
- pistachio
- sage green
- sea green
- seafoam green
- seaweed green
- shamrock green
- spinach green
- spring bud green
- spring green
- sprout green
- spruce green
- summer grass
- swamp green
- tea green
- turtle green
- verdant
- verdigris
- wasabi green
- zucchini green
- acorn brown
- auburn
- autumn leaf
- barbecue sauce brown
- bark brown
- bay
- bear brown
- beetle brown
- biscuit brown
- branch brown
- brick brown
- bronze
- brown
- brown sugar
- brunette
- burnt sienna
- burnt umber
- butterscotch brow
- cafe au lait
- camel brown
- cappuccino brown
- caramel brown
- cardboard brown
- chestnut brown
- chocolate
- khaki
- leather
- lion brown
- liver brown
- mahogany
- maple brown
- maple sugar brown
- maroon
- meatball brown
- milk chocolate
- mink
- mocha brown
- mud brown
- nougat
- nude
- nut brown
- nut brown ale
- nutmeg
- oak brown
- October brown
- pancake brown
- peanut butter brown
- potato brown
- pretzel brown
- raisin brown
- cocoa
- cocoa brown
- coffee bean brown
- coffee brown
- coffee stain brown
- copper
- dark chocolate brown
- dark citrine
- deer brown
- desert sand
- dirt
- doeskin
- dun
- earth brown
- earth yellow
- earthenware brown
- fallow
- fawn brown
- football brown
- fox brown
- freckle brown
- ginger brown
- golden brown
- hazel brown
- henna brown
- rich earth
- roan
- root beer brown
- rosewood
- ruddy brown
- russet brown
- rust
- saddle brown
- sand
- sandy brown
- sea lion brown
- semi-sweet chocolate
- sepia
- sienna
- sorrel
- steak brown
- tan
- tan brown
- tan-nude
- tawny
- toast brown
- tumbleweed
- tweed brown
- walnut brown
- wheat
- argent silver
- ash gray
- battleship gray
- cadet gray
- charcoal gray
- chrome
- cloud gray
- cloudy day gray
- concrete gray
- cool gray
- cool grey
- dim gray
- dolphin gray
- dove gray
- overcast gray
- owl gray
- oyster gray
- pewter
- pigeon gray
- platinum
- rainy day gray
- rhinoceros gray
- river rock
- salt and pepper gray
- sardine gray
- seal gray
- shark gray
- silver
- elephant gray
- fog gray
- grandma gray
- granite gray
- gray
- grey
- gunmetal gray
- haze gray
- hippopotamus gray
- iron gray
- koala gray
- metal gray
- mist gray
- moon gray
- smoke gray
- soot gray
- steel gray
- stone gray
- storm gray
- stormy sea gray
- taupe gray
- thunder cloud gray
- warm gray
- wed sidewalk gray
- wool gray
- zinc gray
- black
- black cat
- black coffee
- black licorice
- black pearl
- black pepper
- black tar
- blackboard black
- blackout
- blue-black
- bow tie black
- carbon black
- kohl black
- licorice black
- Mars black
- mascara black
- mica
- midnight black
- molasses black
- night sky black
- ninja black
- obsidian
- onyx
- outer space black
- chalkboard black
- charcoal black
- coal black
- ebony black
- eclipse black
- eyelash black
- fig
- gothic black
- hearse black
- ink black
- jet black
- jetty black
- piano key black
- pitch black
- pupil black
- raven black
- sable black
- shadow black
- smoky black
- sooty black
- spade black
- spider black
- tar black
- tarmac black
- beige as a field of wheat
- beige as a fortune cookie
- beige as a pancake
- beige as a woman’s foundation
- beige as an old postage stamp
- beige as antique lace
- beige as antique parchment
- beige as brown rice
- beige as cookie batter
- beige as creme brulee
- beige as garlic cloves
- beige as mashed potatoes
- beige as pine nuts
- beige as pistachio shells
- beige as rope
- beige as the pages of an old book
- beige as twine
- black as a burned stump
- black as a burnt wick
- black as a cast-iron skillet
- black as a chimney sweep
- black as a coal mine
- black as a crow’s wing
- black as a dog’s nose
- black as a funeral procession
- black as a Gothic teenager’s wardrobe
- black as a graduation gown
- black as a mechanic’s fingers
- black as a moonless night sky
- black as a piano key
- black as a politician’s heart
- black as a pupil
- black as a rotton banana
- black as a skid mark
- black as a smoker’s lung
- black as a tunnel
- black as a wet rock
- black as an 8-ball
- black as an abyss
- black as an angry thundercloud
- black as an Imperial stout
- black as an oil filter
- black as bottomless water
- black as caviar
- black as crude oil
- black as eggplant
- black as espresso
- black as eyeliner
- black as fresh asphalt
- black as gunpowder
- black as ink
- black as licorice
- black as peppercorns
- black as pitch
- black as soot
- black as the ace of spades
- black as the sea at night
- black as the smoke from a house fire
- black as the space between galaxies
- black as witchcraft
- black like an oven
- blue as a baby’s eyes
- blue as a business shirt
- blue as a cornflower
- blue as a drowned corpse
- blue as a first prize ribbon
- blue as a jazz note
- blue as a little boy’s nursery
- blue as a mountain lake
- blue as a pair of jeans
- blue as a peacock’s feather
- blue as a popsicle stick
- blue as a robin’s egg
- blue as a spruce
- blue as a summer sky
- blue as a swimming pool
- blue as a Valium
- blue as a whore’s eyeshadow
- blue as shimmering steel
- blue as tropical seas
- brown as a bandaid
- brown as a beer bottle
- brown as a bun
- brown as a bunny rabbit
- brown as a deep suntan
- brown as a dried autumn leaf
- brown as a paper bag
- brown as a pinecone
- brown as a pretzel
- brown as a roasted turkey’s skin
- brown as a starfish
- brown as a tawny port
- brown as a tincture
- brown as a violin
- brown as a well-worn saddle
- brown as a winter landscape
- brown as an autumn leaf
- brown as an old boot
- brown as an old penny
- brown as bacon
- brown as bad coffee
- brown as buckeyes
- brown as burnt butter
- brown as burnt toast
- brown as cardboard
- brown as chocolate milk
- brown as cinnamon sticks
- brown as coffee grounds
- brown as fallen oak leaves
- brown as fresh dirt
- brown as iced tea
- brown as melted chocolate
- brown as morel mushrooms
- brown as peanut butter
- brown as raw cane sugar
- brown as seven-grain bread
- brown as Thanksgiving gravy
- brown as the forest floor
- brown as the underside of a magnolia leaf
- brown as tobacco spit
- brown as topsoil
- brown like a river at its mouth
- brown like toasted almonds
- colorful as a beach ball
- colorful as a bowl of fruit
- colorful as a box of crayons
- orange as an ember
- orange as an IPA
- orange as an open flame
- orange as an orangoutang
- orange as autumn leaves
- orange as cheddar cheese
- orange as marmalade
- orange as sliced sweet potato
- orange as tangerine flesh
- orange as tiger’s fur
- pink as a cat’s yawn
- pink as a cheap perfume bottle
- pink as a conch shell
- pink as a flock of flamingos
- pink as a Jordan almond
- pink as a kitten’s nose
- pink as a little girl’s bedroom
- pink as a little girl’s favorite hair ribbon
- pink as a new baby’s skin
- pink as a newborn rat
- pink as a petal
- pink as a piggy bank
- pink as a piglet
- pink as a princess’s gown
- pink as a puppy’s tongue
- pink as a sorority girl’s fingernails
- pink as an albino rabbit’s eye
- pink as an Easter ham
- pink as an eraser
- pink as an old lady’s bathroom tiles
- pink as bubble gum
- pink as canned tuna
- pink as cherry blossoms
- pink as cotton candy
- pink as diced ham
- pink as grapefruit flesh
- pink as Himalayan salts
- pink as little girls’ first lipstick
- pink as pinched flesh
- pink as salmon sushi
- pink as strawberry ice cream
- purple as a berry smoothie
- purple as a black eye
- purple as a bloated tick
- purple as a church in Lent
- purple as a crushed blackberry
- purple as a dyed Easter egg
- purple as a field of lavender
- purple as a field of lilacs
- purple as a fig
- purple as a fresh bruise
- purple as a grape popsicle
- purple as a king’s footstool
- purple as a king’s robe
- purple as a low-hanging cluster of grapes
- purple as a Mardi Gras mask
- purple as a pansy
- purple as a pile of amethyst
- purple as a Pinot Noir
- purple as a port wine stain
- purple as a radish
- purple as a sea urchin
- purple as a sweet plum
- purple as a tacky bridesmaid’s dress
- purple as a varicose vein
- purple as an emperor’s robe
- purple as the blood of a beet
- purple as wine stained lips
- purple like a ripe cherry
- red as a beetroot
- red as a blister
- red as a blushing bride
- red as a boiled lobster
- red as a checkered tablecloth
- red as a child cheek’s
- red as a Christmas ornament
- red as a circus clown’s wig
- red as a communist
- red as a fisherman’s neck
- red as a furnace
- red as a holly berry
- red as a hot coal
- red as a matchtip
- red as a mosquito bite
- red as a pepper
- red as a pomegranate seed
- red as a poppy
- red as a radish
- red as a rash
- red as a raspberry tart
- red as a robin’s breast
- red as a ruby
- red as a ruby grapefruit
- red as a sports car
- red as a stop sign
- red as a strawberry
- red as a sunburn
- red as a tail light
- red as a tomato
- red as a traffic light
- red as a turkey gobbler’s wattle
- red as a Valentine
- red as a vampire’s lips
- red as a vixen’s lips
- red as a winter’s apple
- red as an alcoholic’s nose
- red as an Arizona sunset
- red as an embarrassed schoolboy
- red as an Englishman in the midday sun
- red as an Indiana barn
- red as an Irish Setter
- red as boxing gloves
- red as cherry pie
- red as chili powder
- red as marina sauce
- red as raw meat
- red as satin ribbons
- red as spilt blood
- red as the Chinese flag
- red as the devil
- red as the rising sun
- red as the stripes on the American flag
- red as the velvet curtain at the theater
- red as Tobasco
- silver as a knife blade
- silver as a new dime
- colorful as a canyon sunset
- colorful as a coral reef
- colorful as a farmer’s market stand
- colorful as a field of tulips
- colorful as a kaleidoscope
- colorful as a kite’s tail
- colorful as a Mardi Gras costume
- colorful as a parrot’s plumage
- colorful as a parrot’s wing
- colorful as a quilt
- colorful as a rubik’s cube
- colorful as an acid trip
- colorful as an artist’s palette
- colorful as an autumn treeline
- colorful as an oil slick
- colorful as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor
- colorful as Buddhist prayer flags
- colorful as Christmas lights
- colorful as Easter eggs
- colorful as Fourth of July fireworks
- colorful as neon lights
- colorful as stained glass lit by the sun
- colorful as the northern lights
- colorful as trail mix
- colors faded like an old Oriental rug
- gray as a cemetery headstone
- gray as a city street
- gray as a Confederate uniform
- gray as a dead mouse
- gray as a donkey’s pelt
- gray as a foggy October morning
- gray as a gravestone
- gray as a hippopotamus
- gray as a metal ruler
- gray as a mule
- gray as a new army blanket
- gray as a newsreel
- gray as a November sky
- gray as a Paris winter
- gray as a pessimist’s heart
- gray as a pigeon
- gray as a plateful of porridge
- gray as a prison wall
- gray as a Russian winter
- gray as a shadow on the wall
- gray as a steel sheet
- gray as a stone fence
- gray as a storm cloud
- gray as a storm cloud over London
- gray as a stormy sea
- gray as a tornado
- gray as a toy battleship
- gray as a whale
- gray as a worn athletic sock
- gray as an industrial city
- gray as an old athletic sock
- gray as an old dishrag
- gray as fresh concrete
- gray as limestone rock
- gray as smoke
- gray as the light of the moon
- gray like breath on a frosty morning
- green as a baby frog
- green as a bamboo forest
- green as a Christmas wreath
- green as a dollar bill
- green as a field of clover
- green as a freshly mowed meadow
- green as a garden hose
- green as a goblin
- green as a golf course
- green as a gourd vine
- green as a grasshopper
- green as a lawn of new grass after a rain
- green as a leek
- green as a leprechaun’s hat
- green as a meadow
- green as a pickle
- green as a pine branch
- green as a pine forest
- green as a soccer field
- green as a St. Patrick’s Day parade
- green as a suburban lawn
- green as a superfood smoothie
- green as a viper snake
- green as a Welsh valley
- green as a young leaf
- green as an army truck
- green as an artichoke
- green as an crocodile
- green as an elementary school chalkboard
- green as an iguana
- green as an Irish hillside
- green as an Irish postcard
- green as an unripe banana
- green as astroturf
- green as avocado flesh
- green as bottled glass
- green as Eden
- green as fresh kale
- green as jealousy
- green as Kentucky bluegrass
- green as mint jelly
- green as mint leaves
- green as money
- green as olive oil
- green as pear skin
- green as pesto
- green as pistachio nuts
- green as sliced kiwi
- green as spring
- green as St. Patrick’s Day
- green as wheat grass juice
- orange as a basketball
- orange as a copper penny
- orange as a copper pot
- orange as a flickering flame
- orange as a freshly cut mango
- orange as a glowing jack-o-lantern
- orange as a gold fish
- orange as a Hawaiian sunset
- orange as a life vest
- orange as a Monarch butterfly
- orange as a prison uniform
- orange as a pumpkin
- orange as a traffic cone
- silver as a senator’s hair
- silver as a sheet of rain
- silver as a sleighbell
- silver as a spider web
- silver as liquid chrome
- silver as sleighbells
- silver as the moon
- white as a bleached sand dollar
- white as a blizzard
- white as a communion dress
- white as a cotton ball
- white as a dandelion
- white as a dinner plate
- white as a fish belly
- white as a flock of sheep
- white as a freshly painted fence
- white as a golf ball
- white as a klan rally
- white as a lightening flash
- white as a lily
- white as a line of pure cocaine
- white as a marble statue
- white as a marshmallow
- white as a moonlit sail
- white as a movie star’s teeth
- white as a napkin at a fine dining restaurant
- white as a pearl
- white as a porcelain sink
- white as a ray of moonlight
- white as a sail
- white as a sheep’s wool
- white as a starched white shirt
- white as a sugar cube
- white as a summer cloud
- white as a sunlit snowdrift
- white as a swan
- white as a swan’s stray feather
- white as a wedding cake
- white as a wedding dress
- white as a winter moon
- white as a woman’s breast
- white as an Arctic landscape
- white as an iceberg
- white as an old dog’s face
- white as an old lady’s hair
- white as an onion
- white as apple blossoms
- white as art gallery walls
- white as as star
- white as aspirin
- white as baby’s breath
- white as chalk
- white as cheesecake
- white as coconut flesh
- white as coconut milk
- white as cream cheese
- white as daisy petals
- white as desert sands
- white as detergent
- white as flour
- white as frost
- white as innocence herself
- white as Irish linen
- white as ivory
- white as marble halls
- white as milk
- white as mountain snow
- white as ocean foam
- white as pillowcases
- white as pork fat
- white as quartz crystals
- white as rice
- white as salt
- white as sea’s fog
- white as sea-bleached shells
- white as shredded coconut
- white as sunbeams
- white as the breast of a gull
- white as thistle down
- white as untrod snow
- white as vanilla ice cream
- white as vanilla yogurt
- white as Vitamin D milk
- white as wax
- white as whipped cream
- white like a light bulb
- white like a single shaft of light
- white like a spot of bare canvas in a painting
- yellow as a chick
- yellow as a custard
- yellow as a dandelion
- yellow as a French fry
- yellow as a honeycomb
- yellow as a light beer
- yellow as a lion’s mane
- yellow as a mimosa
- yellow as a pineapple
- yellow as a potato chip
- yellow as a rubber ducky
- yellow as a school bus
- yellow as a sunflower
- yellow as a taxi cab
- yellow as a tennis ball
- yellow as a yield sign
- yellow as an
- yellow as an egg yolk
- yellow as an old tooth
- yellow as butter
- yellow as canned corn
- yellow as Chardonnay
- yellow as cheap cheese macaroni
- yellow as corn in the sun
- yellow as cornflour
- yellow as gold coins
- yellow as legal pads
- yellow as lemon meringue
- yellow as liquid honey
- yellow as mustard
- yellow as mustard seeds
- yellow as olive oil
- yellow as ripe corn
- yellow as saffron
- yellow as sunshine
- yellow as unburnished gold
Published September 15, 2021
Yellow is kind of a big deal. It’s the color of New York City taxis and iconic ’90s smiley faces. The band Coldplay even wrote an entire song called “Yellow.” Songwriting isn’t really our thing, so we made a word list for you instead.
Yellow is a complex, many-hued category of colors, and there are so many expressive and surprising words you can use to describe each shade. Rather than reverting to simply yellow, pale yellow, or bright yellow, we thought we’d offer a few better options. How about nankeen? Or, maybe saffron is more your speed? Whether you’re looking for vivid color words to use in your manuscript or trying to describe exactly what shade of paint you want when you redesign your bathroom, here are 14 different synonyms to describe your perfect shade of yellow.
saffron
Saffron is “a yellowish-orange color” that shares a name with the popular spice made from dried Crocus sativas. The color of saffron yellow is a warm, almost mustard hue of yellow that could be used to talk about the particular fiery yellow of a sunset or the rolling saffron hills during a summer in the countryside. Saffron was first recorded in English in the late 1100s. It derives from zaʿfarān, the Arabic word for saffron.
tawny
This shade of yellow comes to us from the tan family. Tawny means “a shade of brown tinged with yellow; dull yellowish brown.” It has been in use in English since at least 1350, it can be traced to the Middle French tané, a past participle of taner, or “to tan.” Tawny is used for things that have a dull yellow mixed with plenty of brown or tan, such as a tawny owl or the tawny crust of a fresh loaf of bread.
lemon
Lemon has been used to describe a certain shade of yellow since at least 1800. In fact, lemon is probably one of the first words that comes to mind when you think of the color yellow. Lemon yellow is “a clear, yellowish-green color,” much like the color of the fruit itself. Of course, lemons aren’t the only examples of lemon yellow. You could also use this one to talk about everything from sunflowers to taxis.
Looking for something in more of a greenish shade? Then check out these words for the color green.
flaxen
You may have seen the word flaxen used in fairytales to describe the heroine’s flaxen hair. Flaxen means “of the pale yellowish color of dressed flax.” Flax, in case you were wondering, is “a slender, erect, annual plant having narrow, lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers, cultivated for its fiber and seeds.” Flaxen is used to describe very pale, fair shades of yellow, which makes it an ideal choice for writers describing hair or clothing. It has been in use in English since the early 1500s.
Something else those European fairy tales have in common? The name Jack. Find out why “Jack” appears in so many stories and nursery rhymes.
amber
You’re likely familiar with amber as fossilized tree resin. When we use amber to describe colors, that’s the color we’re talking about as well. Amber is defined as “the yellowish-brown color of resin.” Think of the warm, honey yellow of amber jewelry, maple syrup, or even the golden amber sphere encasing a mosquito in Jurassic Park. Amber was first recorded in English in the late 1300s.
xanthous
Which word means “yellow” but also has the potential to make you sound even smarter than you already are? The answer is xanthous. English speakers borrowed xanthous from the Greek xanthós, which also means “yellow.” Originally, the term was used when talking about the yellow of light blond hair or a fair complexion. It has been in use in English since at least the 1820s.
ocher
Ocher, pronounced [ oh-ker ], isn’t only one color of yellow. It actually describes a range of colors of earthy pigments, “from pale yellow to orangish or reddish yellow.” It’s the yellow of certain spices, like turmeric, or the earthy, golden hue of sand. The first usage of ocher in English occurred in the mid to late 1300s, and it can be traced all the way back to the Greek ṓchrā, or “yellow.”
primrose
You might see this particular shade of yellow on a stroll through the garden. Primrose is a “pale yellow” named for the primrose flower family. The word comes from Medieval Latin prīma rosa, or “first rose,” and was first recorded in English in the late 1300s. Despite its pale hue, primrose has shades of white and bright yellow that make it the perfect word for describing light yellow fabrics, paints, or even the sky at first light.
canary
Millennials will recognize canary yellow as the color of Tweety Bird. Others will know this color from some of the less famous canaries in the world. Canary yellow is a “light, clear shade of yellow” like the color of yellow daisies. The word canary was first used to refer to colors as early as 1818.
If this color evokes sweetness for you, try using one of these sweet synonyms instead.
citrine
This shade of yellow takes its name from a gemstone. It’s a variety of quartz, to be exact. A citrine yellow is “pale-yellow; lemon-colored.” In some cases, it may have a translucent quality, like that of a gemstone. You might use citrine to talk about the pale sunlight streaming through the window following a storm or even, perhaps, a cool glass of lemonade. Citrine is related to citrus, from the Latin citrus, which means “citron tree,” a tree with lemon-like fruit.
goldenrod
If you’ve ever driven down a midwestern highway and seen goldenrod lining the sides of the road, you’ll know why this color made our list. Goldenrod is “a strong to vivid yellow,” like the flowers that bloom on the plants of the same name. You might use this one to describe the yellow of a bumblebee or your favorite cozy, yellow sweater. The first recorded use of the word took place in the late 1500s.
fallow
Fallow is a “pale-yellow or light-brown” color that you might see on fading leaves in the fall. It has warm tan and brown undertones that make it a perfect descriptor for things in nature. The word fallow also has a long history in English. It has been in use since before the year 1000, and it derives from the Old English fealu, or “yellow tending toward red, brown or gray.”
Learn more about the enchanting season of fall.
marigold
As you’ve probably noticed by now, many of the words we use to describe shades of yellow come from plants and flowers. Marigold is no exception. The term describes a warm, cheerful and golden yellow that mimics “several chiefly golden-flowered composite plants.” Originally called Mary’s Gold, marigold was named for the Virgin Mary, and was first recorded in English in the 1300s.
nankeen
Nankeen is “a yellow or buff color” named for the shade of a durable cotton fabric that originated in Nanking, China. The word has been in use in English since at least the 18th century, and it’s a synonym for yellow that many people probably haven’t heard before. You might use nankeen to describe someone’s khaki clothing or to describe the brownish yellow hue of a desert landscape in your latest piece of fiction writing.