We’re told as writers to use all five senses. Here’s a list I found that describes colors other than the basic red, blue and yellow. Use this list to enrich your writing.
Colors:
Black:
Onyx, Ebony, Lampblack, Midnight, Blue-black, Carbon, Coal, Raven, Jet, Shadow, Ink, Black Pear, Anthracite, Sable, Obsidian, Pitch, Pepper, Soot, Opaque, Licorice.
Purple:
Amethyst, Lilac, Magenta, Violet, Blackberry, Mauve, Indigo, Orchid, Heliotrope, Dewberry, Plum, Grape, Lavender, Egg Plant, Heather.
Green:
Jade, Grass, Forest Bluish-green, Emerald, Aqua, Moss, Seafoam, Pine, Mallard, Sea, Malachite, Mist, Verdant, Pea, Hunter, Leaf, Pistachio, Kiwi, Spearmint, Aquamarine, Lime, Olive, Caledonia, Chartreuse, Kelly, Sage, Apple, Spruce, Mint, Celery, Periodot, Dill Parsley, Holly, Fern, Baltic, Frog Kelp, Avocado, Lettuce, Eucalyptus, Fatigue, Bayberry, Loden, Gooseberry, Bottle, Fir, Basil, Willow.
Blue:
Azure, Electric, Wedgewood, Neon, Turquoise, Periwinkle, Cornflower, Powder, Sky, Peacock, Slate, Zinc, Rosemary, French, Air Force, Ultra Marine, Indigo, Sapphire, Steel, Ice, Lapis Lazuli, Marine, Delft, Arctic, Mallard, Bluebird, Carpi, Union, Wisteria, China, Teal, Royal, Cobalt, Robin’s Egg, Baby, Navy, Glacier, Federal, Moroccan, Denim, Ensign, Blueberry, Chambray, Bluebell, Mediterranean.
White/Off-White:
Milk, Quartz, Cream, Ecru, Magnolia, Opal, Linen, Winter, Angora, Frosty, Almond, Cauliflower, Birch, Swan, Cotton Seed, Pearly, Eggshell, Ivory, Alabaster, Oyster, Parchment, Stone, Moonstone, Champaign, Cameo, Sugar, String, Diamond, Snowdrops, Natural, Rice, Vanilla, Jade, Oatmeal, Lily, Salt, Chalk, Snow, Bone, Antique, Muslin, Cement, Gardenia, Taffy, Plaster.
Gray/Silver:
Smoke, Silvery, Tattletale, Charcoal, Pewter, Sooty, Salt and Pepper, Dun, Pearl, Slate, Cloud, Cannon, Armor, Chinchilla, Aluminum, Mortar, Tin, Gunmetal, Hoary, Steel, Funeral, Battle ship, Diesel, Nickel, Lead, Quicksilver, Ashen, Dove, Concrete, Iron, Graphite, Artichoke, Platinum, Tinsel, Mercury, Primer.
Yellow/Gold:
Fool’s Gold, Burnished, Flaxen, Butter, Blond, Brass, Sandy, Mustard, Topaz, Buttercup, Forsythia, Honeydew, Coreopsis, Cat’s Eye, Cheese, Tawny, Palomino, Jonquil, Platinum, Honey, White-gold, Wheat, Chamois, Pear, Butterscotch, Corn, Citrine, Maize, Goldenrod, Buff, Ash Blond, Straw, Cadmium, Daffodil, Primrose, Curry, Banana, Pineapple, Sunflower, Canary, Cornsilk, Marigold, Beeswax.
Red/Pink:
Ruby, Dusky Rose, Claret, Maroon, Ox-blood, Brick, Tyrian Cochineal, Blood, Lobster, Scarlet, Salmon, Candy Apple, Garnet, Crimson, Shrimp, Apple, Brass, Rubicund, Auburn, Cherry, Ashes of Roses, Vermilion, Strawberry, Currant, Coral, Rose, Wine, Burgundy, Tomato, Beet, Fire Engine, Red Amber, Rubellite, Youngberry, Mango, Magenta, Tabasco, Hot Pink, Fuchsia, Watermelon, Holy Berry, Barberry, Boysenberry, Geranium, Cardinal, Vermeil, Loganberry, Cayenne Pepper, Corn Poppy, Coralberry, Wineberry, Pepto-Bismol Pink, Bismuth, Cerise Carmine, Cinnabar, Bordeaux, Cranberry, Brandy, Canyon, Elderberry Shell Pink, Heather, Poinsettia, Coralbells, Tearose, Paprika.
Brown:
Earth, Cocoa, Copper, Cinnamon, Tortoise Shell, Mahogany, Taupe, Tan, Henna, Fawn, Ginger, Rust, Khaki, Mushroom, Saddle, Brunette, Buckskin, Foxy, Chocolate, Bay, Sand, Toffee, Roan, Butternut, Coffee, Tawney, Rosewwod, Café au lait, Hazel, Ecru, Umber, Bronze, Nutmeg, Raisin, Maple, Tanned, Mocha, Walnut, Chili, Espresso, Cashmere, Clay, Potato, Tobacco, Bark, Amaretto, Suntan, Cordovan, Twine, Bamboo, Hazelnut, Driftwood, Peanut, Chestnut, Pecan, Camel, Spice, Mohair, Wicker, Timber, Pebble, Foxtail, Putty, Jute, Oak, Cashew, Butterrum, Mousy, Hickory, Drab, Acorn, Caramel, Cedar, Champagne, Suede, Butterscotch, Tea, Sandstone, Fudge, Redwood, Cognac, Burlap, Cappuccino, Desert, Latten, Soy.
Orange:
Pumpkin, Burnt Orange, Terra-cotta, Raspberry, Russet, Melon, Berry, Carrot, Tangerine, Nasturtium, Peach, Trumpet Vine, Canyon, Coral, Apricot, Rust, Bittersweet, Cantaloupe, Titan, Persimmon, Marigold.
Compiled by Lisa Snider
Crayola Color Corner
Crayola® Crayon Chronology
Since 1903, when Binney & Smith introduced the first Crayola crayon, people have been fascinated with the heritage of our color names. You’ll find a summary of Crayola crayon history for now but come back soon and explore a detailed description of how each individual crayon was introduced, how the name was chosen, read interesting stories about each crayon, and more!
photo courtesy of:
by 