How do you spell the color turquoise?
Turquoise is a uniquely vibrant blue-green color that has been prized for centuries. The name “turquoise” can be spelled in several ways:
Quick Answer
The most common spelling is “turquoise” – this is the standard spelling in American English. Turquoise can also be spelled as “turquois” – this is an alternate spelling seen more often in British English. The word derives from the French “turquois” meaning “Turkish”, as the stone was first imported to Europe from Turkey.
So in summary:
| American English | turquoise |
| British English | turquoise or turquois |
The standard way to spell it in all forms of English is “turquoise”.
Origin and Etymology
The word “turquoise” dates back to the 17th century and derives from the French “pierre turquoise” meaning “Turkish stone”. This refers to the fact that the striking blue-green gemstone was first imported to Europe from Turkey.
The name refers to the country of origin, not the color itself. Turquoise gems and artifacts had been used for thousands of years before in cultures like Persia, Egypt, and the Southwestern Native Americans. But the vibrant blue-green color did not acquire the name “turquoise” until the 17th century when the gem became widely known in Europe.
The exact etymology is:
| French | pierre turquoise | “Turkish stone” |
| Latin | turchesius | |
| Italian | turchese | |
| Middle English | turkeis |
So while the word refers to Turkey, it is simply a geographic association. The distinct blue-green color itself has no etymological connection to Turkey.
Distinct Color Properties
What exactly makes turquoise a unique color? It resides in the transition zone between blue and green on the color spectrum. Its defining characteristics are:
| Hue | 170–180° |
| Saturation | 70–100% |
| Brightness | 40–70% |
With these values, turquoise distinguishes itself from pure blue and pure green. It possesses a slightly greener tint than pure blue. And it appears brighter and more saturated than natural greens.
This unique mix of properties allows the eye to discern turquoise as its own distinct intermediate color. It is considered one of the basic color terms in English and many other languages, alongside red, blue, green, yellow, and others.
Unique Pigment Composition
Part of what makes the turquoise color so radiant is its unique pigment composition. Historically, the color was derived from compounds containing copper and aluminum. The most common of these are:
| Copper(II) carbonate | CuCO3 |
| Copper(II) phosphate | Cu3(PO4)2 |
| Copper(II) hydroxide phosphate | Cu2(OH)PO4 |
When combined with other impurities, these compounds reflect light in the blue-green wavelength range of 400–525 nm. This creates the prized turquoise color.
Even today, you will find turquoise color pigments made with combinations of copper, aluminum, phosphates, and hydroxides. The radiance comes from the way copper ions interact with light.
Synthetic versions will also add chromium, iron, or nickel compounds to modify the shades. This allows modern turquoise dyes to achieve even brighter, more consistent color variations.
Distinct Shades
Within the broad turquoise spectrum, there is variability in shade based on factors like:
| – Copper content |
| – Hydration state |
| – Impurities |
| – Particle size |
Higher copper content shifts the color toward a greener teal shade. Increased water content makes it appear lightly paler or washed out. Impurities introduce subtle dark flecks or texture.
Based on these factors, some recognized turquoise color varieties include:
| Persian turquoise | Vibrant sky blue |
| Sleeping Beauty turquoise | Solid robin’s egg blue |
| Bisbee turquoise | Bright blue with dark spiderwebbing |
So while they all sit in the blue-green spectrum, turquoise can take on unique shades based on its chemical composition. This accounts for the many distinct turquoise shades found in nature.
Use in Art and Decor
The brilliant blue-green turquoise color has been widely used in art and design for centuries. Some key uses include:
| – Dyes and pigments |
| – Jewelry |
| – Pottery |
| – Sculptures |
| – Fabrics |
| – Paints |
| – Cosmetics |
Turquoise mineral pigments were used by ancient Egyptians and Mesoamericans over 5,000 years ago for art and artifacts. The signature turquoise glazes on Chinese porcelain first appeared in the 14th century.
Today it remains a ubiquitous color in tribal art, southwest jewelry, Easter eggs, spa products, and more. Its balance of cool and warm undertones allows it to pair flexibly with other colors as well. This versatility cements turquoise as a perennial favorite color.
Cultural and Symbolic Meaning
In addition to its decorative uses, turquoise has acquired diverse cultural meanings over the centuries:
| – Balance |
| – Peace |
| – Protection |
| – Fertility |
| – Strength |
| – Wisdom |
Many Native Americans associated the color with life, earth, and sky. Turquoise jewelry was believed to offer health benefits. Buddhists placed turquoise stones at shrines to symbolize wisdom.
Turquoise also features prominently in the national Iranian crown jewels. It evokes the fertile Persian blue skies. In Western cultures today, it connects to emotional balance and spirituality.
So in symbolic terms, the color turquoise bridges life, nature, and inner peace.
Complementary Colors
Turquoise combines aspects of both cool blue and lively green. This unique fusion means it pairs pleasingly with a diverse palette of colors.
Some complementary colors that go with turquoise are:
| Warm neutrals | Cream, beige, tan, brown |
| Metallics | Gold, brass, silver |
| Pop colors | Yellow, orange, red |
| Cool tones | Purple, pink, magenta |
Turquoise adds vibrancy to more muted neutrals. It also harmonizes beautifully with yellows, oranges, and reds. And it contrasts elegantly against richer purple and pink shades.
This versatility makes turquoise easy to incorporate into all types of decorative schemes and palettes. Its striking balance of warm and cool refracts light uniquely.
Variations in Other Languages
Most languages have adopted loan words or calques to describe the color turquoise. Some examples are:
| French | turquoise |
| Spanish | turquesa |
| Italian | turchese |
| Portuguese | turquesa |
| German | türkis |
| Dutch | turkoois |
These all closely follow the original French term. However, some languages have more unique names:
| Russian | бирюза | biryuza |
| Korean | 터키색 | teoki-saek |
| Chinese | 绿松石色 | lǜsōngshí sè |
| Japanese | ターコイズ | tākoizu |
These terms make indirect reference to Turkey or simply translate to “greenish-blue color”.
Regardless of the exact wording, turquoise is recognized universally as a color uniquely poised between blue and green. The myriad global translations reflect turquoise’s long, cross-cultural history as a decorative color.
Distinguishing from Similar Colors
Turquoise occupies a distinctive place between blue and green that no other color wholly replicates. But it can sometimes be confused with similar shades like:
| Teal | Darker, more blue |
| Aqua | Brighter, more green |
| Cyan | Pure primary blue-green |
| Sea green | Duller, grayer |
While turquoise overlaps with all these colors, it is defined by its own balance of chroma, lightness, and hue. Some distinguishing traits are:
| Turquoise | – Vibrant saturation |
| – Moderate lightness | |
| – Balance of blue and green tones |
Teal pulls more toward a jewel tone, aqua is brighter, and sea green is muted. Only turquoise showcases that perfect marriage of vibrancy, brightness, and blue-green balance. This makes it instantly recognizable even among related shades.
Familiar Turquoise Hues
Turquoise is found everywhere in nature and culture. Some quintessential turquoise shades are:
| – Tropical oceans |
| – Bluebird feathers |
| – Southwestern pottery |
| – Semi-precious stones |
| – Peacock feathers |
| – Crayola crayons |
From sea to sky to art, turquoise evokes lush natural settings. It also graces beloved man-made objects. Spotting familiar turquoise hues helps reinforce the color’s distinctive place in our visual lexicon.
Conclusion
In summary, the standard spelling is “turquoise”, from the French for “Turkish stone”. This uniquely vibrant blue-green color balances the properties of blue and green in a distinctive way. Its unique pigments, cultural history, and decorative versatility cement turquoise as a universally recognized and beloved color. Turquoise’s one-of-a-kind blend perfectly marries the cool tranquil hue of the sky with the warm lush shade of the sea.