brunet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, descriptive; occasionally literary.
Quick answer
What does “brunet” mean?
A person, especially a man, with dark brown or black hair.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, especially a man, with dark brown or black hair.
Refers descriptively to hair color or as a noun to describe someone possessing such hair, with a strong tendency for the masculine-specific use when compared to 'brunette'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood in both varieties but is exceptionally rare in everyday British English. In American English, it sees slightly more use in formal writing or specific contexts (e.g., police descriptions, literary works) to specify male subjects.
Connotations
Can sound old-fashioned, technical, or deliberately precise. Using 'brunette' for a man is increasingly common and often perceived as a minor error or informal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in corpora for both varieties. 'Dark-haired' is overwhelmingly preferred for description.
Grammar
How to Use “brunet” in a Sentence
[be] a brunet[describe as] a brunetthe [adjective] brunetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brunet” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The brunet actor was cast in the role of the romantic lead.
- He had the classic brunet looks of the region.
American English
- The witness described a brunet suspect in his thirties.
- Her brunet boyfriend stood out among all her blond friends.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in sociological or demographic descriptions of populations.
Everyday
Extremely rare. 'Dark-haired guy/man' is universal.
Technical
Possible in forensic or police description contexts (e.g., 'the suspect is a Caucasian brunet').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brunet”
- Using 'brunette' for a man (increasingly common but marked).
- Using 'brunet' in casual conversation where 'dark-haired' is natural.
- Misspelling as 'brunette' for the masculine.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare. The feminine form 'brunette' is common, but for describing a dark-haired man, 'dark-haired' is almost always used.
Increasingly, yes, especially in informal contexts, though it is technically the feminine form. Purists or formal writing may prefer 'brunet' or 'dark-haired man', but many will see 'brunette' for a man as a minor error.
For recognition purposes in older literature or very specific technical writing (e.g., forensic science). For active use, 'dark-haired' is simpler and more natural.
It is pronounced broo-NET, with the stress on the second syllable, identical to 'brunette'.
A person, especially a man, with dark brown or black hair.
Brunet is usually formal, descriptive; occasionally literary. in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Brunet' ends with 'T' like 'gentleman'. 'Brunette' ends with 'E' like 'lady'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAIR COLOUR AS A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC (often reductionist).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'brunet' MOST likely to be encountered?