Teal vs Turquoise – Difference Between Teal and Turquoise

The difference between teal and turquoise is that turquoise is a green-hued shade of blue with a lighter appearance, whereas teal is a green-hued shade of blue with a darker appearance.

Today, we are going to talk about the contrasting nature of teal vs turquoise and explain where you will find them in everyday life, what these colors represent in culture, and why they are completely different from one another. If you are ready to find out more, then let’s dive into the definition of the color teal to start our comparison.

Definition of Teal – So What Is Teal?

The definition of teal is a greenish shade of blue with a dark appearance, carrying the color code #008080.

The main difference between teal and turquoise lies in the tone of each color. Turquoise has a much lighter tone, meaning that it is more suitable for specific settings than teal, which has a much darker appearance.

Teal is actually just a sub-shade of the color cyan. In order to achieve the appearance of the shade, you need to combine the colors white (used as the primary base), blue, and green. The green and blue pigmentation should be added until the appropriate blue/green hue is achieved.

As mentioned, it is important to remember that this shade is simply a cyan derivative. This means that similarly to turquoise, teal is not a color in its own right. It is actually just a different version of cyan. This should help to answer common questions like is teal blue or green as the true answer is that it is neither. It is a combination of both pigments, and it is simply a variant of another color (cyan).

The name teal comes from a freshwater duck carrying the same name. This variety of duck is typically found in Eurasia and carries a distinct appearance with the base brown feathers of its head being contrasted with a bluish green stripe over the eyes. The shade of this stripe is known as teal, in reference to the animal that bears it.

We have been describing this shade of blue/green as teal since the early 20^th century, although we are not sure for certain who first associated it with the duck variety. Culturally, teal carries specific connotations.

Though it is hard to separate teal vs turquoise based on cultural connotations alone because they are both similar, there are some distinct differences in regard to what this color says about the personal traits an individual possesses when they wear it on clothing. First, we will start with the cultural connotations.

Typically regarded as being a positive color, teal is often associated with the following characteristics.

Tranquility
Calmness
Peace of mind
Relaxation
Elegance

It has also been associated with the following personal traits when used on clothing.

Independence
Reliability
Dependability
Thoughtfulness
Level-headedness
Introversion

It can actually be hard to tell the difference between turquoise and teal when you read the above associations with teal because they can be used relatively interchangeably with turquoise also. However, there are some distinct differences to separate them as you will soon find out.

Let’s dive into the definition of turquoise to help you further separate turquoise and teal.

Definition of Turquoise – So What Is Turquoise?

The definition of turquoise is a greenish shade of blue with a light appearance, carrying the color code #30D5C8.

It is the lighter appearance of turquoise that really helps to separate turquoise vs teal and make it instantly recognizable compared to the former shade. Like teal, turquoise also finds its roots in nature although it is not in quite the same way.

Turquoise is actually the name for a chemical compound. This compound is a copper phosphate and carries the unique color shade that we associate with the name turquoise. As such, similarly to teal, the name is not actually the shade. Rather, it is the name given to the object or animal that carries the shade.

Culturally, turquoise carries the following connotations.

Good luck
Fortune
Holiness
Protection

In terms of personal traits, there is a slight difference between turquoise and teal. Even though the two can be used interchangeably to represent similar personality traits when used on clothing, turquoise carries the following specific personal connotations.

Clarity
Intellect
Emotional stability
Balance

Another major difference between teal and turquoise is that turquoise is often associated strongly with the ocean. This is largely due to its aquatic appearance. Though it is difficult to trace the exact origins of this shade, the earliest records of turquoise being included as part of jewelry and clothing date back to 3000 BCE in ancient Egypt.

Turquoise is also frequently used as part of jewelry, whereas this is incredibly uncommon with teal. Other than that, they actually share many of the same associations in terms of personal traits and cultural significance and associations.

The quick reference table in the following section will help you to understand the variations between turquoise vs teal at a quick glance.

What Is the Main Difference Between Teal vs Turquoise?

Here is a quick reference table providing a visual overview of the contrasting areas between these two distinct color shades.

Color shade	Teal	Turquoise
Color code	#008080	#30D5C8
Origin	Early 20^th century, originating from a duck of the same name bearing the shade on its head	First recorded use dates back to 3000 BCE, with ancient Egyptian jewelry being discovered bearing turquoise
Description	A dark shade of bluish green	A light shade of bluish green
Associated personal traits	Introversion, thoughtfulness, reliability, dependability, level-headedness	Intellect, clarity, balance, emotional stability
Cultural associations	Calmness, tranquility, relaxation, elegance	Fortune, good luck, holiness, protection
A variation of	Cyan	Blue

If you get stuck with this subject at any time in the future, simply head back to the above table for a quick refresh on the variations between these two colors/shades.

Teal vs Turquoise – FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about teal and turquoise.

Q: So, what is turquoise colour, and where does it come from?

A: Turquoise is a bluish green shade that gets its name from a copper phosphate of the same name.

Q: So, what is teal colour, and where does it come from?

A: Teal is a dark shade of bluish green, and it comes from a duck variety of the same name that features a distinct bluish green stripe across its eye area.

Q: With clothing and home decor, what color goes with teal the best?

A: These are the best colors to combine with teal.

Pink
White
Cream
Gold
Brown
Coral

Q: With clothing and home decor, what colors go with turquoise the best?

A: Here are the best colors to combine with turquoise.

Light blue
Brown
Black
White
Gray
Red

So What Is the Difference Between Turquoise and Teal? – Conclusion

Finally, you should now be able to effectively summarize the difference between turquoise and teal and effectively answer the question is teal green or blue since you understand their unique definitions, history, and associations.

Just remember that in summary, turquoise is simply a light shade of bluish green, whereas teal is a dark shade of bluish green. They are both similar, but this difference is what sets them apart.

Our quick reference table can refresh your memory at any time if you are unable to read through the full article again in the future.