pink

The word “pink” means having a pale reddish colour, a mix of red and white. In plain terms, the pale red colour most people know from birthday-card wrapping paper — or, less commonly, to cut a zigzag edge in fabric.

“Pink” is pronounced PIHNGK (/ˈpɪŋk/ in IPA).

Here is “pink” used in a sentence: “She wore a pink dress to the party.”

Depending on how it is used, “pink” can be an adjective and a verb.

“Pink” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Pink” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a pale reddish colour, a mix of red and white.

Pink is made by mixing red with white; the more white you add, the paler and softer the pink. Adding a touch of blue shifts it toward rose or fuchsia, while a hint of orange warms it into salmon or coral. Pure pink sits on the scale between red and white.

Pink is generally seen as a warm colour because it comes from red. Its temperature shifts with its undertone, though: blush and salmon pinks feel warm, while pinks with a blue or purple undertone, like fuchsia and rose, can feel cooler. Lighting and surrounding colours also change how it reads.

Pink covers a wide family of shades, including blush, rose, salmon, coral, fuchsia, magenta, and hot pink. Softer shades lean toward white and read as gentle and calm, while brighter, more saturated pinks lean toward red or purple and feel bold, playful, and energetic.

Pink is widely associated with love, tenderness, warmth, and playfulness, and it is often linked with romance and compassion. In many cultures it also carries feminine connotations, though these are cultural rather than fixed. Softer pinks suggest calm and care, while vivid pinks feel fun, bold, and daring.