White Roses Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

Although the most common way to express one’s feelings is through words, you might be surprised to learn that flowers have a language all their own, too — especially roses. In fact, this beautiful flower can represent several various feelings based solely on its color. 

Take white roses, for example; did you know that these gorgeous roses symbolize eternal and ever-lasting love? Yes, it’s true — but that’s not all; white roses symbolize a few different things. 

Interested in learning more? We can help. Read on to discover our complete guide on white roses. 

What Is the Meaning of White Roses?

White roses are considered by many to be the go-to for weddings year after year — and with good reason. White roses symbolize innocence, eternal love, loyalty, and purity. White roses have also been known to symbolize a new beginning and a fresh start.

Fun Fact: Queen Victoria chose white roses for her bridal bouquet when she walked down the aisle in 1840. 

Though the white rose is commonly associated with weddings, you may also find them at funerals. The white rose is very commonly paired alongside carnations and chrysanthemums of the same hue at funerals. 

Throughout history, white roses have stood as a symbol for a plethora of different things — read on below to see a few of those key symbols throughout history:

• Ancient Greece — In Ancient Greece, the white rose symbolized the goddess Aphrodite (though later she was renamed Venus by the Romans).
• Christianity — White roses are often used as a symbol for the Virgin Mary in Christianity; the Virgin Mary herself is sometimes even called the “Mystical rose of Heaven.”
• Early England — The Duke of York’s family symbol was the white rose, and his family and the Lancaster family (whose family symbol was a red rose) battled in the War of the Roses in 14th century England.
• Remembrance of 9/11 — Before the 9/11 Memorial Museum opens to the public, a staff member places white roses near the name of each victim who has a birthday that day. 

What Is the Meaning of Other Rose Colors?

By now, you understand the symbolization behind white roses, but what about the other colors of roses? Here are the top rose color meanings you should know:

• Black Roses — Most commonly seen around Halloween, as well as funerals and wakes, the black rose stands for farewell and death. 
• Blue Roses — Blue roses stand for unattainable love, mystery, and desire due to their mesmerizing shade. They also represent the ultimate lust and desire.
• Lavender Roses — The lavender rose is primarily known to represent love at first sight, though the darker hues of lavender can also stand to represent splendor, fascination, majesty, and enchantment.
• Peach Roses — Peach roses are an outstanding way to say thank you and express gratitude to another; these roses stand for sympathy, modesty, and genuineness.
• Orange Roses — These are the wild child of the rose family, as the orange roses are most aptly used to show great pride, fierce passion, desire, and even love.
• Pink Roses — The pink rose or light pink rose stands for joy, admiration, and sweetness; they are a classic symbol of elegance and grace. 
• Yellow Roses — These roses stand for remembrance, friendship, and care, though they were once used to symbolize greed and jealousy. 
• Red Roses — The most commonly sent Valentine’s Day Flower, the red rose has been a time-honored way to say, “I love you,” for centuries. The red rose stands for longing, passion, and the ultimate love. 
• Purple Roses — The purple rose is most commonly associated with elegance, style, and love. They are also commonly used to indicate a sense of royalty and mysticism. 
• Multi-Colored Roses or Rainbow Roses — The kaleidoscope of colors within the rainbow rose brings an immediate sense of fun and brightness, so it’s no wonder why the rainbow rose is said to stand for joy and happiness. 

What Are Translations of White Roses?

Now that you understand the meaning behind white roses, you might be interested in learning how to say this word in a different language. Not to worry — we’ve got you covered! Here are some common translations of white roses for you to review below:

• Arabic — الورود البيضاء
• Chinese (simplified) — 白玫瑰
• Czech — bílé růže
• Dutch — witte rozen
• Finnish — valkoiset ruusut
• French — roses blanches
• German — weiße Rosen
• Greek — λευκά τριαντάφυλλα
• Italian  — rose bianche
• Japanese — 白いバラ
• Korean — 하얀 장미
• Portuguese — rosas brancas
• Russian — белые розы
• Spanish — rosas blancas
• Thai — กุหลาบขาว
• Turkish — beyaz güller
• Ukrainian — білі троянди
• Vietnamese — hoa hồng trắng

Conclusion

So, what is the meaning behind white roses, you ask?

Simply put, white roses symbolize purity, youthfulness, innocence, young love, and loyalty. They are great for weddings, anniversaries, and graduations, but you can also give a bouquet of white roses to a loved one to say, “I love you.”

At the end of the day, these beautiful white flowers are a token of true love and provide a sweet gesture of adoration. 

Sources:

White roses-Varieties with Name | Flowers Picture

White Rose Signifies Remembrance of 9/11 Victims’ Birthdays | National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Meaning of Rose Colors | RKDN