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Meaning of the Color Teal: Symbolism, Common Uses, & More

Teal is the color of cleanliness, relaxation, and clarity

Today’s article is about the symbolism and the meaning of the color teal as part of the Color Meaning Series.

For more colors, check out our guide on color meanings.

Summary of the meanings of the color teal
Teal color meanings

Where can we find the meaning of the color teal?

Is it on the ebb and flow of the waves or the northern lights dancing across the skies? Maybe it is in the shiny feathers of a peacock or the healing properties of crystals.

Teal is a timeless color because of its commonality in nature. It’s a versatile color in the most diverse realms of design, from fashion and interior to web and graphic design.

And yet, this deep blue-green color is relatively young—the first recorded use of teal as a color name in English was only in 1917.

In today’s article, we’ll talk about the symbolism and meaning of teal, its most common uses, company logos, gemstone, and facts–all about the beautiful teal.

Teal Color Symbolism in Different Cultures

  • The color teal is named after the area around the eye of the common teal bird. The color’s natural origins help explain why teal is so strongly associated with nature and the natural world. The meaning of the color teal is closely tied to its origins.
  • Tibetan monks see the color teal as a symbol of the infinite nature of the sea and the sky.
  • In Egypt, teal is the color of truth and faith, synonymous with knowledge and spirituality.
  • In the United States, teal is one of the more popular colors for many sports teams’ uniforms. Teal gained popularity in this way in the 1990s when many teams that joined the major professional leagues started using teal as their uniform color. Today, teal is still often used in advertising for its ease on the eyes and sophisticated look.

Psychological Meaning of Teal

In the United States, blue and green are the most popular favorite colors. Teal is the happy medium between these two colors. It’s no wonder, then, that the color teal’s meaning overlaps a lot with blue shades and green tones.

Teal cactus

Teal Color Meaning

Here’s some insight into teal’s meaning.

Uniqueness and Unconventionality

Above all, teal communicates the importance of being yourself. Teal doesn’t try to blend in but also doesn’t go out of its way to attract attention to itself the way red and orange do. 

Instead, teal is intriguing and alluring to others but keeps to itself, even as it relishes its own individuality. 

Teal is a lone wolf but a well-intentioned and objective one. It’s often a favorite color among those who like to buck social norms.

Although teal is a relaxing color, it is such an alert hue that it is constantly cautious for danger.

Achieving peace of mind is challenging for teal. This uptight color is generally on edge and prefers to keep to itself.

Relaxation, Revitalization, and Rejuvenation

Perhaps because it’s a similar color to tropical oceans and other gorgeous natural destinations, teal conjures similar emotions as you’d feel while on a luxurious vacation. 

You may feel especially yourself when surrounded by teal, just as you feel most yourself in the middle of a well-earned, long-anticipated vacation to a paradisiacal location. 

This can promote a sense of openness, clarity of thought, and encourage clear, open communication – with the self and with others.

Teal ocean along coastline

Mental and Spiritual Clarity

Teal is often found in nature, including in crystals. These crystals, like turquoise, are often associated with spirituality, soul-searching, and cutting through the world’s confusion to find clarity. 

They can feel almost mystical and have an uncanny ability to clear away worry and fear. The color teal can have a similar effect as it offers emotional healing, spiritual enlightenment, and growth.

Cleanliness and Elegance

Because of its commonplace in nature, teal is a timeless color. Even though it goes in and out of fashion, teal is never truly out of style. 

Picture the color of a blue-green ocean or the plumage of a beautiful bird. Do these things go out of style? Of course not! 

Teal is the same way. It makes a splash and catches the eye, begging to be admired, but remains well-loved through time.

Teal peacock feathers

The Natural World

Teal is a common sight in the natural world – languid lagoons, dense jungles, and the beautiful plumage of tropical birds. 

It’s no wonder, then, that it’s often used in interior design as a way to bring the outdoors inside when natural light and greenery are otherwise limited.

Feminine Energy

Teal is a classic symbol of natural femininity, where the natural world and humanity meet. 

Think of the mermaid Arielle from the movie The Little Mermaid – and her iconic teal fins. 

She’s part of the natural world and evokes a free-flowing beauty, but she’s also deceptively powerful.

Physical Effects of Teal

  • Teal combines the calming properties of blue with the renewal properties of green.
  • Despite being a combination of two cool colors, teal is an energizing, invigorating color. However, some people may find themselves overwhelmed or on edge around it because of its high energy level. You may notice yourself feeling more tense and uptight when surrounded by the color teal. That’s why it’s often reserved for accents and focal points.
  • Thanks to blue and green’s natural healing properties, teal can be a revitalizing and nurturing color. It’s believed to neutralize acid levels in the body. It can encourage muscle and physical growth. It’s a healing color that can also help relieve the pain associated with rheumatism, viral infection, and abdominal pain.

Some Shades of Teal

Here are the most common teal shades with respective hex codes.

Robin Egg Blue #00CCCC

This is a lighter shade of teal that many designers consider to be a shade of turquoise color.

Teal #008080

Steel Teal #5F8A8B

Light Blue Teal #18A7B5

Teal Blue #367588

Teal Green #264B56

Tiffany Blue #81D8D0

Most Common Uses of the Color Teal

In branding, the color teal is commonly used in the following sectors:

  • Electronics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Communications
  • Design
  • Children-related industries, when used in lighter and brighter tones

Companies and Brands That Use Teal in Their Logo

Teal logos
Companies and brands that have teal logos

Teal Gemstones

The color teal blurs the lines between green and blue. It is neither sky nor sea, heaven nor earth – but somewhere softly in-between.

Teal gemstones have the energy of renewal. These stones are higher chakra healers and help you find balance, beauty, and a sense of serenity. These gemstones are all about harmony.

Facts About Teal

  • The teal from Tiffany & Co.’s logo is trademarked. The color is called Tiffany Blue.
  • Teal is a universal color, which tends to be flattering to most people.
  • The color is named after the Eurasian teal, a duck with a teal-colored stripe on its head.
  • London-based paper company G.F. Smith conducted a six-month-long, 30,000+ person survey in 2017 that concluded the world’s favorite color to be a teal hue called Marrs Green.
  • The “orange and teal look” is a trend in 21st-century filmmaking, in which scenes are color graded to emphasize these two complementary colors.
  • Teal is used to raising awareness for ovarian cancer, food allergies, and many other causes.

Teal means: revitalization, calmness, and clarity
Effects of teal: relaxing, calm, and gives a sense of order
Positive traits: uniqueness, open-mindedness, and objective
Negative traits: stand-offish, edgy, and alert