Teal vs. Turquoise — What's the Difference?

As an adjective, teal describes anything of a dark cyan hue.

In culture, turquoise is often associated with the spirit of youth and playfulness.

Teal can refer to the plumage of the duck of the same name.

As an adjective, turquoise refers to anything resembling the gemstone's hue.

Teal is often associated with depth and sophistication.

Turquoise denotes the color of the gemstone.

In design, teal is used for a calming effect.

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. Like most other opaque gems, turquoise has been devalued by the introduction onto the market of treatments, imitations and synthetics.

Teal is a cyan-green color. Its name comes from that of a bird — the Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) — which presents a similarly colored stripe on its head.

A greenish-blue colour

Any of several small dabbling ducks, chiefly of the genus Anas, often having brightly marked plumage.

A semi-precious stone, typically opaque and of a greenish-blue or sky-blue colour, consisting of a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium.

A moderate or dark bluish green to greenish blue.

A blue to blue-green mineral of aluminum and copper, mainly CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O, prized as a gemstone in its polished blue form.

(countable) Any of various small freshwater ducks of the genus Anas that are brightly coloured and have short necks.

A light to brilliant bluish green.

A dark, somewhat bluish-green colour; a dark cyan.

(countable) A sky-blue, greenish-blue, or greenish-gray semi-precious gemstone.

A politician who espouses environmentally and socially progressive but economically conservative ideas, especially in the context of a group of independent candidates who ran in the 2022 federal election.

A pale greenish-blue colour, like that of the gemstone.

Having a bluish-green colour

Made of turquoise (the gemstone).

Any one of several species of small fresh-water ducks of the genus Anas and the subgenera Querquedula and Nettion. The male is handsomely colored, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings.

Having a pale greenish-blue colour.

A shade of green tinged with blue;

A hydrous phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a blue, or bluish green, color, and usually occurs in reniform masses with a botryoidal surface.

Any of various small short-necked dabbling river ducks of Europe and America

Having a fine light blue color, like that of choice mineral turquoise.

A bluish shade of green

A blue to gray green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate; blue turquoise is valued as a gemstone

Teal is a dark blue-green color.

A shade of blue tinged with green

Turquoise is a bright blue-green color.

Turquoise symbolizes energy and tropical climates.

Teal is a dark blue-green color, named after the bird's feathering.

Turquoise is a bright blue-green color, named after the gemstone.

Turquoise is closer to blue, resembling the sky-blue aspect of its namesake gemstone.

Yes, both colors are worn by men, often in ties and shirts.

Teal has more green and less blue, while turquoise has more blue.

Teal is more reserved, while turquoise is brighter and more energetic.

Teal is generally considered the darker of the two.

Yes, both are based on colors that occur in nature.

Teal evokes sophistication and tranquility; turquoise suggests vivacity and energy.

It varies by season and fashion trend, but turquoise is often seen in summer collections.

There isn't a specific gemstone that matches teal, unlike turquoise.

While similar, they are distinct shades and may not always substitute well for each other.

Yes, those with color vision deficiency may have difficulty distinguishing between them.

Neutrals complement teal, while corals and whites often complement turquoise.

Yes, with careful consideration to balance and accent, they can complement each other.