What does brunet mean?
Brunet describes someone whose hair is dark brown, serving as both an adjective ('a brunet young man') and a noun ('the brunet by the window'). It entered English from French, where it is the diminutive of 'brun', meaning brown, ultimately tracing back to Germanic roots that also gave English the word 'brown'. Although 'brunet' is the older and more etymologically neutral form, it has long been overshadowed by 'brunette', which dominates everyday usage and is conventionally applied to women. As a result, 'brunet' survives chiefly as a literary or precise alternative, particularly useful when a writer wishes to describe a man or to avoid gendered connotations altogether. Its rarity lends it a slightly formal or old-fashioned air, yet it remains fully standard and readily understood.
(of a person) Having dark brown hair.
"He is a brunet man of about thirty with a neatly trimmed beard."
A person, especially a man, who has dark brown hair.
"Among the applicants were two blondes and one brunet."
As a noun, 'brunet' is uncommon and may sound slightly formal or literary.
The plural follows regular English formation and refers to multiple people with dark brown hair.
"The portrait gallery showed a row of stern-looking brunets."
While 'brunette' gets all the attention, its masculine twin 'brunet' has been quietly describing dark-haired men in English since the 18th century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brunet
The word comes from French 'brunet', the diminutive of 'brun' meaning brown, and was borrowed into English around the early 18th century. Its root traces back through Old French to a Germanic source related to the word 'brown'. Its feminine counterpart 'brunette' derives from the same French diminutive, and both entered English together, with 'brunette' quickly becoming the more popular form.
Related word forms
How brunet is actually used
'Brunet' is considerably rarer than 'brunette' in modern English. It functions as both adjective and noun. Traditionally it was the masculine counterpart of 'feminine' brunette, though this gender distinction is often not observed today, and many writers use 'brunet(e)' interchangeably regardless of sex.
Easily confused with brunet
'Brunette' is the far more common spelling and is usually applied to women, while 'brunet' is the less common variant, traditionally used for men or without gender emphasis.