Hellgelb

Hellgelb is a German color term that denotes a light, bright yellow. It describes a pale yellow shade that sits toward the lighter end of the yellow spectrum and is distinct from deeper or more saturated yellows such as gold or ochre.

Etymology: The word is a compound of hell (bright/light) and gelb (yellow). In German color nomenclature, hellgelb is used descriptively to indicate a family of pale yellows rather than a single fixed swatch; actual tone varies by manufacturer or context.

Usage: The term appears in art, design, printing, interior decoration, and branding to indicate a cheerful or high-visibility yellow. It is commonly chosen for accents, signage, or backgrounds where a sense of lightness or vitality is desired. In safety contexts, bright yellows are used for visibility.

Standards and digital representations: There is no universal color standard named hellgelb. Digital color spaces assign approximate values; in CSS, the closest built-in color is lightyellow (#FFFFE0), while paint catalogs may provide a product-specific hellgelb swatch with its own RGB or CMYK values.

See also: Yellow, Color naming, German color terms.