amarillo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical (color description); Geographic
Quick answer
What does “amarillo” mean?
A shade of yellow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A shade of yellow; a specific yellow hue (borrowed from Spanish).
Used to refer to a city in Texas, USA; can also describe objects of a specific yellowish color, often implying a bright or golden yellow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a color term, equally rare in both varieties. As a place name, 'Amarillo' is overwhelmingly an American reference.
Connotations
Color: evokes a specific, often warm, yellow. Place: connotes the American Southwest (Texas).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency as a color word. Higher recognition in AmE due to the Texan city.
Grammar
How to Use “amarillo” in a Sentence
[be] ~ (colour)[in] ~[of] ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amarillo” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use]
American English
- [No standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb use]
American English
- [No standard adverb use]
adjective
British English
- The artist favoured an amarillo highlight in the sunset.
- The fabric was a striking amarillo.
American English
- She painted the door a cheerful amarillo.
- The Amarillo sky was vast and clear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially in branding or product color names.
Academic
Rare; may appear in geographic, cultural, or art history studies.
Everyday
Very rare; most likely in reference to the city in Texas.
Technical
Used in design, painting, and colorimetry for a specific hue.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amarillo”
- Using 'amarillo' as the default word for 'yellow'.
- Mispronouncing it with a hard 'll' sound as in Spanish; in English, the 'll' is typically /l/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. In English, it functions mainly as a loanword for a specific shade or, more commonly, as the proper noun for the city in Texas.
No. 'Yellow' is the standard, high-frequency English word. Use 'amarillo' only in specific contexts like color specification (e.g., in design) or when referring to the city.
In American English, it's commonly pronounced /ˌæməˈrɪloʊ/, with the stress on the third syllable ('ril'). The final 'o' sounds like the 'o' in 'go'.
No, there are no widely recognized English idioms featuring the word 'amarillo'.
A shade of yellow.
Amarillo is usually formal / technical (color description); geographic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the word 'amarillo']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I AM A RILLO of sunshine' – linking 'amarillo' to a bright, yellow color.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOR IS AN OBJECT (borrowed object).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'amarillo' MOST commonly used in English?