What is the Difference Between Aqua and Turquoise?

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The main difference between aqua and turquoise lies in their shades and the proportions of blue and green in each color. Here are the key distinctions:

  • Aqua: Aqua is a lighter and more vibrant color, leaning towards a greenish-blue hue. It is a blend of green and blue, with equal proportions of both colors, making it a color in the cyan spectrum. The RGB value of aqua is (0, 255, 255), indicating that there is virtually no red present, while the green and blue values are equal.
  • Turquoise: Turquoise is slightly darker and has more of a blue hue with hints of green. It is characterized by having extra green over blue, making it a green shade within the cyan spectrum. The RGB value of turquoise is (224, 208).

While both colors appear in the cyan spectrum, which consists of colors ranging from green to blue, turquoise is closer to the green side of the spectrum, whereas aqua has a more balanced proportion of green and blue. To distinguishing between the two, it can be helpful to compare them side by side, as the differences may be more apparent in direct comparison.

Comparative Table: Aqua vs Turquoise

Here is a table comparing the differences between aqua and turquoise:

Feature Aqua Turquoise
Definition Aqua is a bright, clear bluish-green color that evokes a sense of water and is often used to represent youth and revitalization. Turquoise is a blend of green and blue, with equal amounts of blue and green, and is often associated with the stone of the same name, which was first discovered in Turkey.
Hue Aqua leans more towards a bluer shade. Turquoise leans more towards a greener shade.
Origin The term "aqua" is derived from the Latin word "aqua," which means water. The origin of the word "turquoise" comes from the French word "turqouis," which means Turkish. The stone and color were first discovered in the 17th century and shipped from Turkey.
Associations Aqua is often associated with water, youth, and revitalization. Turquoise is associated with the stone of the same name and is often used in jewelry and design.

While both aqua and turquoise are blue-green colors, they have different hues and associations. Aqua is more bluish and often represents water and youth, while turquoise is a blend of green and blue with equal parts of each and is often associated with the stone it is named after.