Eggplant
A deep purplish colour named after the skin of European eggplants
Eggplant is a dark purple or brownish-purple shade, matching the outer skin of European eggplants. The name 'eggplant' became linked to this colour as purple varieties became common in Western cooking, though the vegetable itself comes in many other colours. Crayola introduced a version of this shade in 1998.
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- Eggplant is a dark purple or brownish-purple shade.
- Named after the skin of European eggplants.
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1915.
- Crayola introduced an eggplant crayon in 1998.
- Also called 'aubergine' in British English.
What colour is Eggplant?
Eggplant is a dark, rich purple or brownish-purple colour. It takes its name from the skin of European eggplants, which are usually a deep, glossy purple. The shade can also have a pinkish or greyish tinge, as seen in some modern uses. This colour stands out from other purples by its earthy, muted tone, making it less vivid than violet or indigo.
Where does Eggplant come from?
The word 'eggplant' originally described white, egg-shaped varieties of the vegetable, since they looked like eggs. Over time, as purple-skinned types became more common in Western markets, the name shifted to mean the deep purple colour of their skin. The first use of 'eggplant' as a colour name in English was in 1915. In British English and several European languages, the colour is also called 'aubergine'.
How Eggplant is defined
Eggplant as a colour is not made from a pigment or dye, but is defined by its resemblance to the skin of the European eggplant. The specific shade can vary, but the version shown by Crayola since 1998 is a pinkish-purple-greyish tone. The colour is reproduced in digital and print media using standard colour codes.
Purple around the world
What the purple and violet family means from country to country.
In Holy Week, members of religious brotherhoods walk in procession in robes and pointed hoods, many of them purple, the colour of penance. A purple band also marked the flag of the Second Republic.
Sacred and holyPolitics and protestSource: Holy Week in SpainSuffragettes campaigning for women's votes wore purple, white and green: purple for dignity, white for purity and green for hope.
Politics and protestCourageSource: SuffragetteA child born to a reigning Byzantine emperor was called porphyrogennetos, born in the purple. The birth took place in a palace room lined with purple stone.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Born in the purpleIn the elections of 2005, voters dipped a finger in purple ink to prevent double voting. The stained finger, held up for cameras, became a sign of the vote.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Election inkPurple dye from the murasaki plant was costly and hard to make. In the court rank system set up under Prince Shotoku, the highest officials wore purple caps.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Twelve Level Cap and Rank SystemThe Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon made Tyrian purple from sea snails. The dye was so costly that it became the colour of kings and Roman emperors.
Royalty and powerAweSource: Tyrian purpleShades and relatives of Eggplant
Eggplants themselves can have skins in many colours, from indigo and white to red, black, or green, but in Western contexts, 'eggplant' as a colour refers to the deep purple variety. Related shades include dark violet (as seen in Chinese eggplants) and brownish-purples. The term 'aubergine' is used interchangeably with 'eggplant' in British English.
Colours that go with Eggplant
Harmonies are worked out from the value #614051. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Eggplant
What colour is eggplant?
Eggplant is a dark purple or brownish-purple shade, similar to the skin of European eggplants.
Where does the name 'eggplant' for this colour come from?
The name comes from the vegetable, which was first called 'eggplant' for its white, egg-shaped varieties. As purple-skinned types became common, the word became linked to the deep purple colour.
When was 'eggplant' first used as a colour name in English?
The first recorded use of 'eggplant' as a colour name in English was in 1915.
Is 'aubergine' the same as eggplant?
Yes, 'aubergine' is the British English and French word for eggplant and is used for the same colour.
Are all eggplants purple?
No, eggplants can be indigo, white, red, black, or green, but in Western contexts, 'eggplant' as a colour refers to the purple variety.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Eggplant (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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