English Red

HEX: #AB4B52 | Modern Palette

On White
5.44:1
PASS
On Black
3.86:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#AB4B52
RGB
171, 75, 82
HSL
355°, 56% ,67%
CMYK
0, 56.14, 52.05, 32.94

About English Red

English Red (#AB4B52) is a color with RGB(171, 75, 82) and HSL(355.63°, 56.14%, 67.06%). It is commonly associated with Romantic moods. In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Logo. Its complementary color is #4BABA4, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #52AB4B and #4B52AB. The name comes from English Red (English).

  • HEX: #AB4B52
  • RGB: 171, 75, 82
  • HSL: 355.63°, 56.14%, 67.06%
  • Mood: Romantic
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Logo
  • Complementary color: #4BABA4
  • Triadic colors: #52AB4B, #4B52AB
  • The name comes from English Red (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

English Red #AB4B52 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

English Red #AB4B52 pairs with #4BABA4 as its complementary color, and #52AB4B and #4B52AB in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

ENGLISH RED
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

ENGLISH RED
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

ENGLISH RED
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

ENGLISH RED
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

ENGLISH RED
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

ENGLISH RED

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for English Red #AB4B52 moves from dark #120808 tones through the base color to lighter #F7EDEE tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

ENGLISH RED

Color Characteristics

Mood
Romantic
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Logo

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #72724E
Protanopia #5C5C53
Tritanopia #AB4C4C
Achromatopsia #6A6A6A

Frequently Asked Questions

English Red (#AB4B52) is a color with RGB(171, 75, 82) and HSL(355.63°, 56.14%, 67.06%).

#AB4B52 pairs strongly with #4BABA4 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#AB4B52 is suitable for Text, Button, Logo and works well with Warm styles.

#AB4B52 is commonly associated with Romantic.

The name English Red is linked to English Red from English, meaning A specific shade of red, often associated with traditional English aesthetics or materials..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word English Red
Meaning A specific shade of red, often associated with traditional English aesthetics or materials.
Language English
First Recorded Use 18th Century

History

English Red, as a color, has a long history tied to natural earth pigments, particularly red ochre and Venetian Red (which was also widely used in England). These pigments, rich in iron oxide, were readily available and produced durable, stable reds. The 'English' designation likely came to differentiate a specific hue or preparation popular in England from other reds. It was extensively used in house painting, particularly for brickwork and timber, and in the arts. It also found its way into military uniforms (e.g., 'redcoats') and heraldry. Over time, the term has come to evoke a sense of traditional English style and heritage.

First Recorded Use

The term 'English Red' likely emerged as a descriptor for a particular pigment or color popular in England, possibly derived from iron oxides, during the 18th century. While precise first use is hard to pinpoint, the widespread use of such pigments in art, architecture, and textiles of the period suggests its establishment.

Cultural Associations

Often associated with traditional English country houses and cottages. Evokes a sense of warmth, tradition, and rustic charm. Can be seen in historical military uniforms, particularly those of the British Army. Used in various decorative arts and crafts reflecting English heritage. Sometimes confused with 'British Racing Green' as a national color, though 'English Red' is more about a specific shade than a national identifier.

Similar Named Colors

Rose Vale #AB4E52 ΔE 1.06
Bittersweet Shimmer #BF4F51 ΔE 5.06
Popstar #BE4F62 ΔE 5.35
Deep Chestnut #B94E48 ΔE 5.83

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #AB4B52;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #AB4B52;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #AB4B52;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #AB4B52,
        #7CDAD3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #AB4B52,
        #7CDAD3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$english-red: #AB4B52;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$english-red-r: 171;
$english-red-g: 75;
$english-red-b: 82;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $english-red;
    color: rgba($english-red-r, $english-red-g, $english-red-b, 0.8);
}