English Vocabulary

Types of Colors: Names, Shades, and List with Images

Types of Colors: Names, Shades, and List with Images

Learning colors names in English helps build essential vocabulary for describing objects, clothes, designs, and visuals. Knowing these words supports speaking and writing about appearance, choice, and detail. Below is a categorized list of English color names for better understanding and faster recall.

What Are Colors?

Colors are what we see when light reflects off an object. They make things look red, blue, green, or any other hue you can imagine.

Basic Colors Names and Their Pictures

Here are the most common and basic color names that you should know in English:

  • Red
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Pink
  • Brown
  • Black
  • White
  • Gray
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Maroon
  • Navy Blue
  • Sky Blue
  • Violet
  • Indigo
  • Turquoise
  • Cyan
  • Magenta
  • Beige
  • Cream
  • Teal
  • Lime
  • Olive
  • Peach
  • Lavender
  • Coral
  • Cyan Blue
  • Khaki
  • Mint
  • Chocolate
  • Tan
  • Plum
  • Amber
  • Mustard
  • Ruby
  • Sapphire
  • Emerald
  • Rose
  • Aquamarine
  • Charcoal
  • Ivory
  • Lilac
  • Wine
  • Salmon
  • Sea Green
  • Denim Blue
  • Coffee
  • Brick Red
  • Steel Blue
  • Dusty Rose
  • Lemon
  • Aqua
  • Copper
  • Mahogany
  • Sand
  • Slate Gray
  • Periwinkle
  • Sky Gray
List of Colors Names in English with their Images
List of Colors Names in English with their Images

Basic Color Names for Kids and Beginners

These are the most common colors that are taught first and used in everyday conversation.

  • Red
  • Blue
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Pink
  • Brown
  • Black
  • White
  • Gray
  • Cyan
  • Lime
  • Navy
  • Teal

Types of Colors Names in English

Primary Colors List

  • Red
  • Blue
  • Yellow
  • Scarlet
  • Crimson
  • Azure
  • Golden Yellow
  • Ultramarine
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Royal Blue

List of Secondary Colors

  • Orange
  • Green
  • Purple
  • Violet
  • Turquoise
  • Teal
  • Magenta
  • Lime Green
  • Indigo
  • Amber

Neutral Colors Name

  • Black
  • White
  • Grey
  • Beige
  • Brown
  • Ivory
  • Cream
  • Taupe
  • Tan
  • Charcoal

Shades of Common Colors with Description

Common Shades of Red

  • Crimson: A deep, rich red shade that looks slightly bluish.
  • Scarlet: A bright red with a hint of orange.
  • Burgundy: A dark red color with a touch of purple.
  • Maroon: A brownish-red color often used in clothes and flags.
  • Cherry Red: A lively, fresh red inspired by cherries.
  • Ruby: A jewel-like, shiny red color.
  • Carmine: A deep red made from natural dye.
  • Coral Red: A pinkish-red color similar to coral reefs.
  • Fire Red: A bold and strong red like burning flames.
  • Rose Red: A romantic red similar to rose petals.

Shades of Blue Colors

  • Sky Blue: A light blue like a clear sky.
  • Navy Blue: A dark, deep blue often seen in uniforms.
  • Royal Blue: A bright, bold blue color with a royal touch.
  • Azure: A clean, pure blue often seen in seas.
  • Cobalt Blue: A strong blue with a metallic tone.
  • Turquoise Blue: A mix of blue and green, very refreshing.
  • Baby Blue: A very soft and pale blue tone.
  • Teal Blue: A dark bluish-green color.
  • Sapphire Blue: A gemstone-inspired deep blue color.
  • Cerulean: A sky-inspired bright blue shade.

Shades of Green

  • Mint Green: A light green shade like mint leaves.
  • Olive Green: A dull green shade like olives.
  • Emerald Green: A bright gemstone-like green.
  • Lime Green: A vivid, yellowish-green color.
  • Forest Green: A dark green found in forests.
  • Sea Green: A bluish-green shade from ocean water.
  • Jade Green: A calm green inspired by jade stones.
  • Moss Green: A natural dull green color.
  • Pistachio: A soft green with a creamy touch.
  • Chartreuse: A mix of yellow and green, bright in tone.

Shades of Yellow Colors

  • Lemon Yellow: A bright yellow like lemon skin.
  • Mustard Yellow: A dark yellow with brown undertones.
  • Gold: A shiny metallic yellow tone.
  • Amber: A warm golden-yellow shade.
  • Canary Yellow: A pure and bright yellow.
  • Honey Yellow: A soft, golden-yellow like honey.
  • Cream Yellow: A pale, light yellow shade.
  • Banana Yellow: A fruity, fresh yellow color.
  • Flaxen: A soft, light yellowish color.
  • Sunflower Yellow: A natural, bright yellow shade.

Pink Colors Shades

  • Baby Pink: A very soft and light pink color.
  • Hot Pink: A bold, bright pink shade.
  • Rose Pink: A medium pink similar to rose petals.
  • Coral Pink: A mix of orange and pink.
  • Magenta: A deep pink with purple tones.
  • Salmon Pink: A peachy-pink color like salmon flesh.
  • Blush Pink: A gentle pink used in makeup.
  • Fuchsia: A vivid and bright pink color.
  • Peach: A light orange-pink shade.
  • Dusty Pink: A faded, muted pink tone.

Shades of Purple

  • Lavender: A light purple with a soft look.
  • Violet: A bright purple between blue and red.
  • Lilac: A pale purple color like lilac flowers.
  • Mauve: A grayish-purple tone.
  • Orchid: A rich, pinkish-purple color.
  • Plum: A dark purple with red tones.
  • Amethyst: A crystal-inspired medium purple.
  • Eggplant: A deep, dark purple like the vegetable.
  • Heather: A light, grayish purple.
  • Periwinkle: A mix of blue and purple shades.

Shades of Brown

  • Chocolate Brown: A deep brown like cocoa.
  • Coffee Brown: A dark brown similar to coffee.
  • Caramel: A light brown with a golden glow.
  • Tan: A soft light brown.
  • Chestnut: A reddish-brown color.
  • Walnut: A dark, rich brown tone.
  • Beige: A creamy light brown color.
  • Sand Brown: A pale brown like beach sand.
  • Taupe: A grayish-brown neutral color.
  • Mahogany: A deep reddish-brown tone.

Shades of Grey

  • Silver: A shiny metallic grey color.
  • Ash Grey: A light grey tone like ashes.
  • Charcoal: A dark grey shade close to black.
  • Slate Grey: A cool grey with a blue tint.
  • Steel Grey: A medium grey like metal.
  • Cloud Grey: A very light, soft grey.
  • Dove Grey: A pale warm grey tone.
  • Graphite: A dark grey like pencil lead.
  • Smoke Grey: A misty, faded grey shade.
  • Pebble Grey: A medium-light grey color.

Color Names Often Used in Speaking and Writing

These colors appear often in everyday English, books, and conversation.

  • Navy
  • Beige
  • Sky Blue
  • Maroon
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Peach
  • Olive
  • Purple
  • Teal

A to Z List of Color Names in English

AmberGoldMagentaSalmon
AquaGreenMaroonScarlet
AzureGreyMintSilver
BeigeIndigoNavySky Blue
BlackIvoryOliveSunflower
BlueJadeOrangeTeal
BrownKhakiPeachTurquoise
BurgundyLemonPinkViolet
CrimsonLilacPurpleWhite
CoralLimeRedYellow

FAQs

What are the basic colors names in English?

The basic colors names in English include red, blue, yellow, green, orange, black, white, pink, purple, and brown.

How many colors names are there in English?

There are over 150 recognized colors names in English, including basic, rare, pastel, metallic, and nature-inspired shades.

What are light and dark colors examples?

Light colors include light blue, ivory, and beige, while dark colors include navy, maroon, and charcoal.

Which colors names come from nature?

Nature-based colors include rose, lavender, peach, olive, sand, cherry, lemon, mint, and coral.

Why should English learners study colors names?

Learning colors names improves vocabulary for describing objects, fashion, art, and daily conversation more accurately.

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About the author

Muhammad Qasim

Muhammad Qasim is an English language educator and ESL content creator with a degree from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and TEFL certification. He has over 5 years of experience teaching grammar, vocabulary, and spoken English. Muhammad manages several educational blogs designed to support ESL learners with practical lessons, visual resources, and topic-based content. He blends his teaching experience with digital tools to make learning accessible to a global audience. He’s also active on YouTube (1.6M Subscribers), Facebook (1.8M Followers), Instagram (100k Followers) and Pinterest( (170k Followers), where he shares bite-sized English tips to help learners improve step by step.