yellow
YEH-loh
Yellow (noun) means the bright color of lemons, sunflowers, and egg yolks, produced by light around 580 nanometers. Example: “She painted the kitchen walls a cheerful yellow.”
noun
1
The bright color of lemons, sunflowers, and egg yolks, produced by light around 580 nanometers.
"She painted the kitchen walls a cheerful yellow."
"The traffic light turned yellow just as we approached the intersection."
"The artist mixed a little blue into the yellow to make green."
adj
1
Having the color yellow.
"He wore a bright yellow raincoat."
"The bananas on the counter had turned a ripe yellow colour."
"We planted yellow tulips along the front path last autumn."
2
Informal: cowardly, lacking courage.
"Don't be yellow — just ask her out already."
"Nobody wanted to be called yellow, so they all jumped off the rocks."
"He felt yellow for running away from the barking dog."
verb
1
To turn yellow, or to cause something to turn yellow, often through age.
"The old newspaper clippings had yellowed with age."
"Leaving the paper in the sun will yellow it within a few weeks."
"The pages of the old book had begun to yellow at the edges."
How to use yellow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe color between green and orange on the color wheel; also slang for cowardly.
Common mistake
Calling someone "yellow" to mean cowardly is old-fashioned slang — it can sound dated or, in some contexts involving ethnicity, offensive; use with care.
Common pairings
turn yellow
yellow card
yellow light
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Word forms
- Plural
- yellows
- Third person singular
- yellows
- Past tense
- yellowed
- Comparative
- yellower
- Superlative
- yellowest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She painted the kitchen walls a cheerful _____.
Etymology
From Old English geolu, going back to a very old root shared across the Germanic and even wider Indo-European languages meaning "yellow" or "green".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for yellow
See all rhymes for yellow →Frequently asked questions
What does “yellow” mean?
The word “yellow” means the bright color of lemons, sunflowers, and egg yolks, produced by light around 580 nanometers. In plain terms, the color between green and orange on the color wheel; also slang for cowardly.
How do you pronounce “yellow”?
“Yellow” is pronounced YEH-loh (/ˈjɛloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “yellow” in a sentence?
Here is “yellow” used in a sentence: “She painted the kitchen walls a cheerful yellow.”
What is another word for “yellow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “yellow” include xantho-, blond, cream, dandelion, gold and khaki.
What part of speech is “yellow”?
Depending on how it is used, “yellow” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “yellow” come from?
The word “yellow” comes from Old English. From Old English geolu, going back to a very old root shared across the Germanic and even wider Indo-European languages meaning "yellow" or "green".
Is “yellow” a common word?
“Yellow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “yellow” have?
“Yellow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the bright color of lemons, sunflowers, and egg yolks, produced by light around 580 nanometers.
Is yellow a primary color?
Yes, in most color systems. In traditional painting (RYB) and in printing (CMYK), yellow is a primary color that cannot be made by mixing others. In the RGB system used by screens, however, yellow is created by combining red and green light. So whether it is primary depends on whether you are mixing paint or light.
What does the color yellow symbolize?
Yellow is widely linked to sunshine, happiness, optimism, and energy; its brightness feels warm and cheerful. It can also signal caution, as in traffic lights and warning signs, and occasionally cowardice in older slang. Meanings vary by culture, but positive associations with light, warmth, and joy are the most common.
What is the difference between yellow and gold?
Yellow is a pure, flat color like a lemon or a highlighter. Gold is yellow with a metallic sheen; it reflects light and shifts in tone, suggesting shine and value. Gold evokes wealth, medals, and jewelry, while yellow reads as bright and simple. Essentially, gold is yellow with luster and richness.
What are the main shades of yellow?
Common shades range from pale lemon and canary to warm amber, gold, and mustard. Cooler yellows lean slightly green, while warmer ones lean toward orange. Named varieties include cream, butter, saffron, and dandelion. They differ in brightness and warmth, but all sit around the same part of the spectrum near 580 nanometers.
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