Hazel is a light brown color with hints of green or gold, named after the hard-shelled nut that grows on hazel trees. When people describe someone's eyes as hazel, they mean the irises show a mixture of brown, green, and sometimes gold or amber tones that can look different depending on the lighting or what the person is wearing.

Hazel eyes are fairly uncommon, appearing in about 5% of people worldwide. Unlike brown eyes that stay consistently brown or blue eyes that stay blue, hazel eyes can seem to shift in color. In bright sunlight they might look more golden-brown, while in dim light or against a green shirt, the green tones become more noticeable.

The hazel tree itself is a bushy plant that produces edible hazelnuts (also called filberts), which you might find in chocolate spreads or baked goods. The tree's wood is flexible and strong, traditionally used for making walking sticks and the frames of woven baskets.