What does aquamarine mean?
Aquamarine is a transparent, blue-green gemstone belonging to the beryl family, the same mineral group that produces emerald. Its name derives from the Latin aqua marina, meaning 'sea water', a fitting description of its clear, oceanic hue. Prized since antiquity, it has long been associated with sailors, who carried it as a protective charm, and it remains the traditional birthstone for March. Beyond its geological sense, aquamarine also denotes the pale blue-green colour itself, frequently used to describe tropical seas, swimming pools, and even eyes. In modern usage the word appears most often in jewellery contexts and in evocative travel or descriptive writing, where it lends a tone of freshness and tranquillity. Both elegant and precise, it is a useful term whenever a writer needs a colour word more specific than 'blue' yet softer than 'teal'.
A transparent blue-green variety of beryl, valued as a gemstone.
"The museum displayed a flawless aquamarine weighing over a hundred carats."
Of a pale blue-green colour like seawater.
"They swam in the aquamarine shallows off the coral reef."
Used when referring to multiple gemstones; the colour sense is uncountable.
"Her collection included several fine aquamarines from Brazil."
Sailors once carried aquamarines as talismans, believing the sea-coloured stones would protect them from shipwreck — its very name means 'sea water' in Latin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aquamarine
Aquamarine comes from the Latin aqua marina, literally 'sea water', reflecting the gem's resemblance to the colour of the ocean. The term entered English in the early modern period, when it was applied both to the beryl gemstone and, later, to the distinctive blue-green colour. It shares its root with other Latin-derived words built on aqua, such as aquatic, aquarium, and aqueduct.
How aquamarine is actually used
As a noun, aquamarine refers to the gemstone; as an adjective (or in attributive use), it describes the blue-green colour. The word carries connotations of calm, clarity, and the sea, making it popular in descriptions of tropical waters and jewellery alike. It is the traditional birthstone for March.
Easily confused with aquamarine
Turquoise is a more opaque, greenish-blue colour and stone, while aquamarine is a paler, clearer blue-green gemstone of the beryl family.
Azure is a pure sky-blue without the green tint that characterises aquamarine.