10 Color Symbols And Their Meanings

Are you looking for color symbols and their meanings?

We may not always pay attention to colors and very rarely give them a thought, but they play a significant role in our everyday life. We are often unaware how colors affect our feelings as certain colors invoke some emotion in us when we see them.

We also sometimes associate certain colors with views and notions as well as memories and recollections. In this manner, colors become something we can use to communicate ideas, indicate and gesture action, and influence mood and even physical reactions.

Color symbolism is important for many reasons. We react to colors in various ways. Designers use this symbolism in order to catch the attention and earn the trust of their target users. That’s why logos of products and/or advocacies are well thought of with the right usage of colors.

Without further ado, let us jump into our list of color symbols and their meanings.

10 Color Symbols And Their Meanings

1. Red

Red is an intense color with an array of symbolic meanings among various cultures.

For some, red is a symbol of life, health, and vigor; for others, it represents anger, war, and courage. Yet others still view this color as representative of love and religious fervor.

It is the color of fire and blood, and hence linked with energy, sexuality, and excitement. It is also used to signify power and desire, speed and strength, and also danger, violence, and aggression.

In general, red is a symbol of passion. The things that it represents are all associated with passion.

2. Blue

Both our mind and body get positive effects from this cool hue, which is why blue is used as representative of calm and rest. These effects can result in the body producing calming chemicals as well as induce tranquility. Blue is naturally cooling, too, and assists with self-expression and balance.

In various cultures, this color is religiously important and invokes peace. It is also thought to ward off evil spirits.

Blue is the color of the sea and the sky, thus symbolizing both. This cool color is also linked with freedom, inspiration, intuition, imagination, and sensitivity.

The color blue also signifies open spaces as well as depth, intelligence and wisdom, trust and loyalty, confidence and sincerity, faith and stability.

3. Purple

Purple is any color with hue between red and blue.

Since Biblical times, the purple color has been associated with royalty as well as wealth, luxury, and nobility. It is also a symbol of grandeur, power, and ambition.

Wearing this color signifies not only royalty but also wisdom, pride, and devotion. It can also symbolize many things from extravagance and creativity to dignity, devotion, peace, independence, and mystery.

Purple has also represented magic for centuries.

4. Green

Green invokes positive emotions and make them stronger while weakening negative emotions. This color is in the middle of the spectrum, with hue between yellow and cyan.

Most of us associate green with nature, hence reminding us of leaves and forests. Because of its association with nature, the color is commonly described as both serene and invigorating.

In many cultures, the color green symbolizes money and good luck. In others, it represents hope, good health, fertility, and everlasting life. However, green also has negative connotations such as envy and infidelity.

5. Yellow

On the spectrum of light, you can find yellow between the colors green and orange.

Yellow was deemed a sacred color during ancient times. It was thought to be imperishable and indestructible, hence forever lasting – just like the precious metal gold. It was viewed as the color of the gods because many religions revered the sun. Sun deities were always depicted as clad in yellow.

Generally seen as a happy color, yellow is the color of sunshine and symbolizes everything that is positive: excitement, energy, enthusiasm, optimism, hope, confidence, energy, friendship, joy, and creativity. It can also represent intellect.

On the contrary, though, this cheery color can also stand for negative things such as cowardice, jealousy, caution, egotism, betrayal, illness, danger, and anxiety.

6. Pink

The term “pink” was first used only in the late 1600s. The color pink takes its name after the flowering plant called pink, or Dianthus plumarius, whose frilled edges are pink-colored.

No other color is more associated with femininity than pink. It represents all the girly things such as charm, sweetness, politeness, tenderness, sensitivity, and romance. It also stands for childhood since it is both playful and nurturing, making it a nostalgic color that makes us go reminiscing back to our childhood days.

Intense shades of pink, on the contrary, are used to symbolize love, romance, and sometimes even lust.

7. Orange

Previously known as “yellow-red” or “saffron,” the name of this bright color between yellow and red on the light spectrum was changed to “orange” back in the 1500s.

This color has various symbolic meanings. In the Bible, orange stands for caution and danger. For the Dutch people, it is a symbol for their royalty.

Mostly associated with optimism, energy, and excitement, the color orange is akin to yellow, except that it also stimulates passion (as well as appetite) like red does.

As a color representing creativity, enthusiasm, and adventure, orange evokes movement and transformation and is mostly favored by young people rather than old.

8. White

In the strictest sense, pure white can be defined as the absence of color, which makes it technically not a color but a shade instead.

However, there has been a long-standing debate that white is actually a color because white light is composed of all 7 hues on the light spectrum. The truth remains, however, that white is a shade and not a color, just like its opposite – black. Both are shades that augment colors.

White is achromatic and the lightest color, which makes it a true balance of all colors. As the opposite of black, white is viewed as the color of innocence and perfection or purity and is linked with cleanliness and sincerity.

Due to its association with purity, white is held in high regard in many cultures and religions. Among Catholics, for instance, white is associated with Jesus Christ, thus signifying innocence and sacrifice.

9. Black

Just like white, black is achromatic (without hue) and is a result of the complete absorption of light. It is often used as a symbol for darkness.

Black also signifies power and mystery, elegance and sophistication. It is a popular shade in fashion. The same goes for text because black is easy to read.

Black can evoke negatives emotions, including anger and sorrow, which is why it is often associated with death and mourning.

10. Brown

A color created by mixing orange and black, the name “brown” is derived from brún, an Old English term used to refer to any dusky or dark color. The word “brown” to indicate the color has been around since 1000 AD.

Generally seen as a neutral and natural color, solid like the earth, brown is believed to evoke feelings of warmth and security, as well as earthiness.

The color symbolizes resilience, reliability, dependability, safety, security, and a sense of strength.