To describe eye color in writing, go beyond naming the color: pick a word that paints a precise shade, such as sapphire, honey, or slate, and choose a color that hints at who your character is. This article lists the associations of each eye color and vivid words for each one.
"The eyes are the windows to the soul" is a common saying. In everyday life, we have learned not to judge a person's personality or quirks by their eye color. In writing, however, you have a lot more freedom. Eye color is a great way to define your character and to give the reader hints about their traits or their journey in your story.
You also have more colors to choose from in writing than nature offers. Purple eyes or red eyes are no problem at all. Here is how you can express different eye colors better than by just naming the color.
Words for black eyes
Black is an eye color for characters who are meant to seem secretive and mysterious. A character with black eyes can be very passionate and deep, loyal, and intuitive. Black eyes often also express a very powerful, sometimes hidden, energy.
In a negative context, black eyes can make a character seem untrustworthy, insect-like or reptile-like, or downright evil. Characters with black eyes often have sinister intentions or something to hide.
To vary the description of black eyes, you can use these terms:
- anthracite
- coal black
- ebony
- jet black
- obsidian
- pitch black
- smoky
- soot black
- velvety black
Words for blue eyes
Many babies, especially those of European descent, are born with blue or gray eyes that often change color in the first months or years of life. This is one reason why blue eyes are linked with youth and innocence. Characters with blue eyes are usually described as calm and peaceful, and other characters often find them especially attractive.
In a more negative context, a blue-eyed character can come across as naive, detached from reality, gullible, or even foolish.
Instead of just writing "blue eyes", try one of these:
- arctic blue
- aquamarine
- baby blue
- cornflower blue
- electric blue
- ice blue
- indigo
- ocean blue
- sapphire
- sky blue
Words for brown eyes
Brown is the most common eye color in the world. Brown-eyed characters are often self-confident, independent, strong, and determined. Other characters see them as trustworthy, and they give off an air of warmth and security.
On the other hand, a brown-eyed character can appear brutish, simple, boring, or even dull-witted.
There are many wonderful shades of brown you can use, such as:
- amber
- champagne
- chestnut
- chocolate
- dirt brown
- golden brown
- honey
- mud brown
- ocher
- tawny
- topaz
- umber
Words for gray eyes
Writers often give gray eyes to older characters, but gray eyes can also express wisdom and gentleness in younger ones. Gray-eyed characters usually come across as sensitive and analytical.
On the less favorable side, gray-eyed characters can seem bland and boring.
Consider these descriptions when a character has gray eyes:
- anthracite
- charcoal
- cloudy gray
- graphite
- silver
- slate
- smoky
Words for green eyes
Green eyes are usually seen as mysterious, and writers often give them to characters who are close to nature. Green-eyed characters are often described as curious, passionate, and generally positive and happy.
On the darker side, green eyes are linked with jealousy (the "green-eyed monster") or with poison.
You can use different shades of green to describe green eyes:
- chartreuse
- emerald
- forest green
- jade
- olive green
- sea green
Words for other eye colors
Hazel eyes
Eyes that show both green and brown are commonly called hazel eyes. Characters with hazel eyes come across as spontaneous, adventurous, and competitive. However, the two-toned color can also suggest mood swings.
If the eyes show more green, the character can seem more mischievous. If the color leans toward brown, the character seems more approachable.
Red eyes
Red eyes do not normally occur in humans, although the eyes of some people with albinism can look red in certain light. In animals, red eyes are more common. In fiction, red is more of a fantasy color. It is often linked with courage, strength, ambition, and power. However, it can also express rage, anger, or a lust for revenge, and it is linked with dark intentions and evil.
Depending on what you want to express, you can use these terms for red eyes:
- blood red
- deep red
- fiery
- hot pink
- pink
- wine red
Violet eyes
Purple or violet eyes are extremely rare, so they fit better into a fantasy story, or into one where your character wears colored contact lenses. Violet is a sophisticated and spiritual color: characters with violet eyes are often linked with royalty and riches, or with prophecy and clairvoyance. Because it is such a powerful color, writers often give it to leaders, royals, oracles, and witches.
You can use these terms for eyes of this color:
- amethyst
- hyacinth
- lavender
- lilac
- purple
White eyes
White eyes are usually a sign of blindness. A character's eyes turn white, or are white, when they can no longer see out of them (or out of one of them). Beyond that, the only limit is your creativity.
Instead of "white", you can also use these terms:
- blind
- cloudy
- milky
- snow white
Yellow eyes
Yellow eyes are quite common in animals: think of cats, wolves, birds of prey, and snakes. Characters with yellow eyes are therefore often compared to a certain animal, or take on its features and traits.
Here are a few nice terms you can use to describe yellow eyes:
- golden
- honey
- sunny
Heterochromia
You can also give a character two eyes of different colors. This is called heterochromia. It does occur in nature, but it is rare in humans. You can use it to express a duality in a character. Characters with heterochromia are often seen as especially significant, mystical, magical, supernatural, or simply special.
For more ways to bring a character to life on the page, read how to write a perfect character description.