gullaktig

Gullaktig is a Swedish adjective describing a color that is yellowish or yellow with a warm, golden hue. The form is generally understood as derived from gul, yellow, together with the suffix -aktig, meaning “-like” or “-ish.” In contemporary Swedish, gulaktig is the more common form; gullaktig appears in certain dialects, older texts, or more poetic usage and often conveys a softer or more emotive nuance.

The term is used to describe colors of natural objects and materials, as well as light. It can describe leaves that have turned pale yellow with a golden tone, fur or plumage with a warm yellow tint, or metals with a warm, amber-like color. It is also used in art criticism and design to signal a warm, yellowish cast, for example gullaktig ljus or gullaktiga färger.

In contrast, gulaktig is the more neutral and widely used form in everyday language. Related terms include gul (yellow), guldfärgad (gold-colored), and guld (gold). The word gullaktig may carry a sense of warmth or softness and is sometimes found in literary or descriptive prose.