Across the 348 historical combinations in the dictionary, only 135 (39%) contain a colour pair that meets WCAG AA (4.5:1) — the bar for body text. Of those, 60 clear AAA (7:1). A further 67 reach 3:1, usable for large headings only, and 146 have no pair above 3:1 at all. That last group is not broken — it is simply decorative, meant for fills and backgrounds rather than legible type.

The takeaway is practical: do not assume a Wada palette is screen-ready. When you need text, reach for one of the combinations below, set your text and background to the named pair, and keep the rest of the palette for accents. (Need the reverse — palettes for atmosphere, not legibility? Most of the archive qualifies. See the full data analysis.)

The 135 text-safe Wada combinations

Sorted by the strongest available contrast. The pair listed is the one to use for text-on-background; AAA passes for any text size, AA for normal body text.

  1. Yellow & Black Yellow + Black 15.9:1 AAA
  2. Carmine & Yellow +2 Yellow + Black 15.9:1 AAA
  3. Sulpher Yellow & Black Sulpher Yellow + Black 15.7:1 AAA
  4. Raw Sienna & Lemon Yellow +2 Lemon Yellow + Black 15.2:1 AAA
  5. Cream Yellow & Yellow +2 Yellow + Dull Violet Black 15.1:1 AAA
  6. Lemon Yellow & Light Green Yellow +2 Lemon Yellow + Dull Violet Black 14.4:1 AAA
  7. Eosine Pink & Seashell Pink +2 Seashell Pink + Black 13.6:1 AAA
  8. Old Rose & Apricot Yellow +2 Apricot Yellow + Dull Violet Black 13.1:1 AAA
  9. Ivory Buff & English Red +1 Ivory Buff + Black 12.8:1 AAA
  10. Cinnamon Buff & Citron Yellow +2 Cinnamon Buff + Black 11.9:1 AAA
  11. Cinnamon Buff & Deep Lyons Blue +2 Cinnamon Buff + Black 11.9:1 AAA
  12. Grenadine Pink & Naples Yellow +1 Naples Yellow + Deep Slate Green 11.5:1 AAA
  13. Eugenia Red | B & Naples Yellow +2 Naples Yellow + Deep Slate Green 11.5:1 AAA
  14. Sulpher Yellow & Pinkish Cinnamon +2 Sulpher Yellow + Deep Slate Olive 11.5:1 AAA
  15. Light Brown Drab & Sulpher Yellow +2 Sulpher Yellow + Deep Slate Olive 11.5:1 AAA
  16. Lemon Yellow & Apricot Orange +2 Lemon Yellow + Cotinga Purple 11.3:1 AAA
  17. Lemon Yellow & Deep Slate Olive +1 Lemon Yellow + Deep Slate Olive 11.2:1 AAA
  18. Pale Lemon Yellow & Dark Tyrian Blue Pale Lemon Yellow + Dark Tyrian Blue 11.1:1 AAA
  19. Sudan Brown & Glaucous Green +1 Glaucous Green + Black 11.0:1 AAA
  20. Naples Yellow & Peach Red +2 Naples Yellow + Deep Slate Olive 11.0:1 AAA
  21. Seashell Pink & Deep Slate Green Seashell Pink + Deep Slate Green 10.5:1 AAA
  22. Raw Sienna & Pyrite Yellow +2 Calamine BLue + Black 10.2:1 AAA
  23. Carmine & Pinkish Cinnamon +1 Pinkish Cinnamon + Deep Indigo 10.1:1 AAA
  24. Light Brown Drab & Raw Sienna +2 Deep Slate Olive + Nile Blue 10.0:1 AAA
  25. Carmine Red & Neutral Gray +1 Neutral Gray + Black 9.9:1 AAA
  26. Peach Red & Sea Green +2 Neutral Gray + Black 9.9:1 AAA
  27. Salvia Blue & Deep Indigo +1 Deep Indigo + Neutral Gray 9.9:1 AAA
  28. Vinaceous Cinnamon & Orange +2 Vinaceous Cinnamon + Black 9.4:1 AAA
  29. Ivory Buff & Dusky Madder Violet Ivory Buff + Dusky Madder Violet 9.0:1 AAA
  30. Yellow Orange & Sepia +2 Yellow Orange + Black 8.8:1 AAA
  31. Seashell Pink & Vandyke Brown Seashell Pink + Vandyke Brown 8.6:1 AAA
  32. Red & Yellow +2 Yellow + Slate Color 8.5:1 AAA
  33. Cream Yellow & Grayish Lavender - B +2 Cream Yellow + Cotinga Purple 8.4:1 AAA
  34. Sulpher Yellow & Ochraceous Salmon +2 Sulpher Yellow + Slate Color 8.4:1 AAA
  35. Light Green Yellow & Cotinga Purple Light Green Yellow + Cotinga Purple 8.3:1 AAA
  36. Corinthian Pink & Cream Yellow +2 Cream Yellow + Deep Slate Olive 8.3:1 AAA
  37. Yellow & Deep Lyons Blue Yellow + Deep Lyons Blue 8.3:1 AAA
  38. Brown & Citron Yellow +1 Citron Yellow + Dull Violet Black 8.2:1 AAA
  39. Pomegranite Purple & Cobalt Green +2 Cobalt Green + Deep Slate Green 8.2:1 AAA
  40. Lemon Yellow & Madder Brown +1 Lemon Yellow + Madder Brown 8.0:1 AAA
  41. Eosine Pink & Hay's Russet +2 Hay's Russet + Pale Lemon Yellow 7.9:1 AAA
  42. Apricot Orange & Olive Yellow +1 Apricot Orange + Deep Indigo 7.7:1 AAA
  43. Grenadine Pink & Cossack Green +2 Deep Slate Olive + Light Glaucous Blue 7.6:1 AAA
  44. Olive Buff & Cossack Green +2 Olive Buff + Cotinga Purple 7.6:1 AAA
  45. Orange & Yellow Green +1 Yellow Green + Dark Tyrian Blue 7.6:1 AAA
  46. Sulpher Yellow & Yellow Orange +1 Sulpher Yellow + Vandar Poel's Blue 7.5:1 AAA
  47. Eosine Pink & Burnt Sienna +2 Eosine Pink + Black 7.3:1 AAA
  48. Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1 Lemon Yellow + Vandar Poel's Blue 7.3:1 AAA
  49. Vistoris Lake & Pale Lemon Yellow +2 Vistoris Lake + Pale Lemon Yellow 7.3:1 AAA
  50. Warm Gray & Black Warm Gray + Black 7.3:1 AAA
  51. Golden Yellow & Deep Slate Olive +1 Deep Slate Olive + Neutral Gray 7.3:1 AAA
  52. Vistoris Lake & Laelia Pink +2 Laelia Pink + Black 7.3:1 AAA
  53. Grenadine Pink & Black Grenadine Pink + Black 7.2:1 AAA
  54. Cream Yellow & Vandyke Brown +1 Cream Yellow + Vandyke Brown 7.2:1 AAA
  55. Raw Sienna & Apricot Yellow +2 Apricot Yellow + Deep Lyons Blue 7.2:1 AAA
  56. Pale Lemon Yellow & Blackish Olive Pale Lemon Yellow + Blackish Olive 7.2:1 AAA
  57. Light Glaucous Blue & Dark Tyrian Blue Light Glaucous Blue + Dark Tyrian Blue 7.2:1 AAA
  58. Grenadine Pink & Deep Indigo Grenadine Pink + Deep Indigo 7.2:1 AAA
  59. Olive Ocher & Orange +1 Olive Ocher + Deep Slate Green 7.1:1 AAA
  60. Eugenia Red | A & Apricot Yellow +2 Apricot Yellow + Dusky Green 7.1:1 AAA
  61. Raw Sienna & Ivory Buff +2 Ivory Buff + Slate Color 6.8:1 AA
  62. Turquoise Green & Cobalt Green +1 Turquoise Green + Slate Color 6.8:1 AA
  63. Burnt Sienna & Pinkish Cinnamon +2 Turquoise Green + Slate Color 6.8:1 AA
  64. Carmine & Grayish Lavender - A +2 Grayish Lavender - A + Cotinga Purple 6.7:1 AA
  65. Hermosa Pink & Pansy Purple +2 Hermosa Pink + Pansy Purple 6.7:1 AA
  66. Hay's Russet & Nile Blue +2 Hay's Russet + Nile Blue 6.6:1 AA
  67. Ivory Buff & Yellow Ocher +1 Ivory Buff + Deep Lyons Blue 6.6:1 AA
  68. Fawn & Dusky Madder Violet Fawn + Dusky Madder Violet 6.5:1 AA
  69. Ivory Buff & Dusky Green Ivory Buff + Dusky Green 6.5:1 AA
  70. Orange & Black Orange + Black 6.5:1 AA
  71. Rosolanc Purple & Orange +1 Orange + Black 6.5:1 AA
  72. Pale Lemon Yellow & Vinaceous Cinnamon +1 Pale Lemon Yellow + Lincoln Green 6.4:1 AA
  73. Spinel Red & Vandyke Red +1 Vandyke Red + Turquoise Green 6.4:1 AA
  74. Raw Sienna & Vinaceous Cinnamon +2 Vinaceous Cinnamon + Dark Tyrian Blue 6.4:1 AA
  75. Spinel Red & Rosolanc Purple +2 Spinel Red + Dull Violet Black 6.4:1 AA
  76. Ochraceous Salmon & Cotinga Purple +1 Ochraceous Salmon + Cotinga Purple 6.2:1 AA
  77. Red & Pale Lemon Yellow +2 Red + Pale Lemon Yellow 6.2:1 AA
  78. Coral Red & Lemon Yellow +1 Lemon Yellow + Taupe Brown 6.2:1 AA
  79. Yellow Orange & Dusky Madder Violet Yellow Orange + Dusky Madder Violet 6.2:1 AA
  80. Yellow Ocher & Vandyke Brown Yellow Ocher + Vandyke Brown 6.1:1 AA
  81. Burnt Sienna & Ivory Buff +2 Ivory Buff + Vandar Poel's Blue 6.1:1 AA
  82. Rosolanc Purple & Orange Yellow +1 Orange Yellow + Red Violet 6.1:1 AA
  83. Cinnamon Buff & Lemon Yellow +1 Lemon Yellow + Lincoln Green 6.1:1 AA
  84. Yellow Orange & Dark Tyrian Blue Yellow Orange + Dark Tyrian Blue 6.0:1 AA
  85. Carmine Red & Pale Lemon Yellow +1 Carmine Red + Pale Lemon Yellow 6.0:1 AA
  86. Lemon Yellow & Green Blue +2 Lemon Yellow + Helvetia Blue 6.0:1 AA
  87. Ivory Buff & Sudan Brown +1 Ivory Buff + Violet 6.0:1 AA
  88. Vandyke Red & Pale King's Blue Vandyke Red + Pale King's Blue 5.9:1 AA
  89. Corinthian Pink & Slate Color Corinthian Pink + Slate Color 5.9:1 AA
  90. Coral Red & Scarlet +2 Coral Red + Deep Slate Olive 5.9:1 AA
  91. Carmine Red & Sulpher Yellow Carmine Red + Sulpher Yellow 5.8:1 AA
  92. Cream Yellow & Olive Ocher +2 Cream Yellow + Dusky Green 5.8:1 AA
  93. Pale King's Blue & Violet Blue Pale King's Blue + Violet Blue 5.8:1 AA
  94. Ecru & Pale King's Blue +1 Pale King's Blue + Vandar Poel's Blue 5.6:1 AA
  95. Pale Burnt Lake & Yellow Orange +1 Pale Burnt Lake + Glaucous Green 5.6:1 AA
  96. Hay's Russet & Cream Yellow +2 Hay's Russet + Cream Yellow 5.5:1 AA
  97. Jasper Red & Green +1 Green + Black 5.5:1 AA
  98. Vistoris Lake & Cream Yellow +1 Cream Yellow + Violet 5.3:1 AA
  99. Carmine Red & Orange Yellow +2 Orange Yellow + Dusky Green 5.3:1 AA
  100. Cameo Pink & Deep Lyons Blue Cameo Pink + Deep Lyons Blue 5.2:1 AA
  101. Ochraceous Salmon & English Red +2 Light Glaucous Blue + Violet Blue 5.2:1 AA
  102. Pale Burnt Lake & Pinkish Cinnamon +2 Pale Burnt Lake + Pinkish Cinnamon 5.2:1 AA
  103. Pansy Purple & Olive Ocher +1 Pansy Purple + Olive Ocher 5.2:1 AA
  104. Eosine Pink & Hay's Russet +2 Eosine Pink + Dusky Madder Violet 5.2:1 AA
  105. Jasper Red & Benzol Green +1 Benzol Green + Deep Indigo 5.1:1 AA
  106. Corinthian Pink & Brick Red +2 Brick Red + Sulpher Yellow 5.1:1 AA
  107. Burnt Sienna & Orange Yellow +2 Orange Yellow + Violet Blue 5.1:1 AA
  108. Olive Buff & Violet Blue Olive Buff + Violet Blue 5.1:1 AA
  109. Etruscan Red & Hay's Russet +1 Hay's Russet + Light Glaucous Blue 5.1:1 AA
  110. Olive Ocher & Cobalt Green +1 Cobalt Green + Violet 5.0:1 AA
  111. Brick Red & Apricot Orange +2 Apricot Orange + Vandyke Brown 4.9:1 AA
  112. Pale Burnt Lake & Yellow Ocher +1 Pale Burnt Lake + Yellow Ocher 4.9:1 AA
  113. Raw Sienna & Pale Burnt Lake +2 Raw Sienna + Black 4.9:1 AA
  114. Cameo Pink & Hay's Russet +1 Cameo Pink + Hay's Russet 4.9:1 AA
  115. Mars Brown Tobacco & Night Green Mars Brown Tobacco + Night Green 4.9:1 AA
  116. Raw Sienna & Vandyke Brown +1 Raw Sienna + Deep Indigo 4.8:1 AA
  117. Carmine & Yellow +1 Carmine + Yellow 4.8:1 AA
  118. Pale Lemon Yellow & Benzol Green +2 Pale Lemon Yellow + Antwarp Blue 4.8:1 AA
  119. Golden Yellow & Antwarp Blue +1 Golden Yellow + Slate Color 4.8:1 AA
  120. Red Orange & Orange Yellow +1 Orange Yellow + Violet 4.8:1 AA
  121. Pale Burnt Lake & Vinaceous Cinnamon +1 Pale Burnt Lake + Vinaceous Cinnamon 4.7:1 AA
  122. Isabella Color & Red Violet Isabella Color + Red Violet 4.7:1 AA
  123. Vandyke Red & Yellow Orange +2 Yellow Orange + Slate Color 4.7:1 AA
  124. Sulpher Yellow & Green Blue +1 Sulpher Yellow + Antwarp Blue 4.7:1 AA
  125. Cinnamon Buff & Pale Raw Umber +1 Cinnamon Buff + Pale Raw Umber 4.7:1 AA
  126. Red Orange & Golden Yellow +1 Golden Yellow + Deep Lyons Blue 4.7:1 AA
  127. Ochre Red & Pale Burnt Lake +2 Pale Burnt Lake + Venice Green 4.7:1 AA
  128. Pale Burnt Lake & Buffy Citrine +1 Pale Burnt Lake + Grayish Lavender - A 4.6:1 AA
  129. Red Orange & Pale Lemon Yellow +2 Pale Lemon Yellow + Dark Medici Blue 4.6:1 AA
  130. Fawn & Cerulian Blue +1 Fawn + Violet Blue 4.6:1 AA
  131. Etruscan Red & Ecru +2 Ecru + Madder Brown 4.6:1 AA
  132. Cameo Pink & Spinel Red +1 Cameo Pink + Vistoris Lake 4.5:1 AA
  133. Yellow Ocher & Violet Yellow Ocher + Violet 4.5:1 AA
  134. Hay's Russet & Ecru +2 Hay's Russet + Olive Ocher 4.5:1 AA
  135. Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2 Dull Violet Black + Light Mauve 4.5:1 AA

How to use a Wada palette for text safely

  1. Open the combination and read its contrast matrix — every palette page lists the ratio for each pair.
  2. Use the highest-contrast pair for text and background. The shortlist above already names it for the 135 that pass.
  3. Reserve the remaining colours for borders, fills, icons, and decorative blocks — never for small text on a low-contrast neighbour.
  4. Check your final pairing at the real font size. 4.5:1 is the floor for body copy; 3:1 is acceptable for text 18px+ or 14px+ bold.

Method

Contrast is computed with the WCAG 2.1 relative-luminance formula on every colour pair within each of the 348 historical combinations; a combination is "text-safe" if its strongest pair reaches 4.5:1. Figures are generated at build time from the archive. The 30 modern editorial palettes are excluded so the list describes Wada's original work. Source data is public domain; this analysis is CC BY 4.0.

Keep reading: A Data Analysis of the Dictionary · contrast checker tool · browse all 348 combinations.

— colorcombinations.org editorial

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