Yellowish

Yellowish refers to a color that is similar to that of a lemon or gold, or of the sun. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In the RGB color model, used to create colors on television and computer screens, yellow is a secondary color made by combining red and green at equal intensity.

Etymology

The term "yellowish" is derived from the Old English geolu, geolwe. This in turn is related to the Dutch geel, the German gelb, and the Latin gallus, meaning "yellow".

Perception and use

Psychologically, yellowish is associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. It produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Yellowish is often associated with food and is used in children's products and marketing to create a sense of excitement.

In nature

In nature, yellowish is commonly seen in autumn leaves, corn, canaries, daffodils, and sunsets. Yellowish is also a color often associated with heat, from the bright, burning heat of the sun to the warm, comforting glow of a campfire.

In culture

In different cultures, yellowish has various meanings. In China, yellowish is the color of royalty and power. In India, it's the color of merchants. In the United States, a "yellow light" is a signal to be cautious, while a "yellow card" is a warning in many sports.

In science

In science, yellowish is the color of stars with a surface temperature between 4000 and 6000 K, like our sun. In the field of optics, yellowish light is evoked by light with a predominant wavelength of roughly 570–590 nm.

See also

• Color
• Primary color
• Secondary color
• RGB color model
• Color psychology
• Optics