Apricot
A pale yellow-orange shade named after the apricot fruit
Apricot is a gentle, light colour that blends yellow and orange, taking its name from the apricot fruit but appearing softer and less intense than the fruit’s skin. The name comes from Arabic, Greek, and Latin roots, and has been used for this colour since 1851.
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- Apricot is a pale yellow-orange shade.
- The name comes from Arabic, Greek, and Latin roots.
- Used as a colour name in English since 1851.
- Lighter than the skin of an actual apricot.
- Variations include light apricot and mellow apricot.
What colour is Apricot?
Apricot is a soft, pale colour that sits between yellow and orange. It is inspired by the look of apricot fruit, though it is lighter and more subdued than the actual fruit’s skin. This shade stands out for its gentle warmth and is less intense than most oranges.
Where does Apricot come from?
The word 'apricot' traces back through several languages: it comes from Arabic, which borrowed it from Greek, and ultimately from Latin. The colour name has been used in English since 1851, chosen for its resemblance to the fruit, though the shade is paler than the real thing.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of Apricot
There are a few well-known versions of apricot. 'Light apricot' has been a Crayola crayon colour since 1958. 'Mellow apricot' is included in the British Standards 5252 list, which is used for coordinating colours in construction and design. Each version offers a slightly different tone, but all are gentle and warm.
Colours that go with Apricot
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FBCEB1. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Apricot
What colour is apricot?
Apricot is a soft, light shade that mixes yellow and orange. It is gentler and paler than the skin of an actual apricot fruit.
Where does the name 'apricot' come from?
The name comes from the Arabic word 'al-birquq', which itself comes from Greek and Latin. It was first used for this colour in English in 1851.
Are there different shades of apricot?
Yes, there are lighter and slightly deeper versions, such as 'light apricot' in Crayola crayons and 'mellow apricot' in the British Standards 5252 colour list.
Good reading and sources
- Apricot (color) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Apricot (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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