There are blonde, brunette and redhead. What's the name for people with black hair?
asked Jul 12, 2011 at 23:36
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5There may not be a noun for those with black hair, but there are certainly adjectives: raven-haired, or someone with jet-black hair, if it is very dark.– aedia λJul 13, 2011 at 0:13
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2blackhead– PacerierApr 22, 2014 at 14:32
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3 Answers
Although there is some debate over this, the Oxford Dictionary definition of brunette is:
noun: a woman or girl with dark brown hair.
This source also mentions that in the US, an alternate form of the word brunette is brunet. The Merriam-Webster definition of brunet is:
a person having brown or black hair and often a relatively dark complexion —spelled brunet when used of a boy or man and usually brunette when used of a girl or woman
Thus, brunette includes the range of hair colors from brown to black. There is no specific and separate term for someone with black hair. However, people have suggested the term noirette. Note, also, that although the term brunette includes those with black hair, not everyone may agree. Therefore, this is the official term for people with black hair but not necessarily the one used in everyday life.
answered Jul 12, 2011 at 23:46
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1Even redhead isn't really on a par with the other two. Everyone is either fair-haired (blonde), or dark-haired (every other shade, including red and black). Jul 13, 2011 at 0:52
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9@Fublefingers - are you persecuting the gingers by refusing to recognise them? :-) Jul 13, 2011 at 1:05
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2no, "sacre bleu" is a french expression. In french you could use "noiraud" and "noiraude" for someone who has black hair ( or black skin ). But nowadays it is mostly used to name black cows (really). Noiret/ette might have existed though, it's true.– NikkoJul 13, 2011 at 13:36
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3"Redhead" is an undoubtedly English-derived term, where "blonde", "brunette" and (ostensibly) "noirette" are French. How about another butchery of the language of love: "rougette"? You could also use the gentler-sounding term "blanquette" for someone with gray/white hair.– KeithSJul 13, 2011 at 16:15
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"Raven haired" is an older term that still seems to be understood by most.
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3"Raven haired" certainly means "black haired", but I've seen it used only in novels, and only of people the author intends the readers to perceive as sexually attractive. It may really be an old term, but for some reason I think of it as modern but intended to sound old. I think its natural home is in a fantasy novel. It would look a little out of place anywhere else.– TRiGJul 25, 2011 at 20:57
A person who has black hair is generally called "black-haired".
Most people will understand.
answered Jul 12, 2011 at 23:56
