A simple, rapid, and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of sulfide based on its reaction with thionine. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing absorbance of the dyestuff at 600 nm by the fixed time method. After optimization of the measuring conditions the calibration curves were found linear up to 38.0 ppm (four regions), and the theoretical limit of detection was 0.076 ppm and the relative standard deviation for determination of 1.0 ppm sulfide (n = 10) was found to be 2.7%. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of sulfide in spring water and wastewater samples.