Blond vs. blonde: which is it?
Maybe you’ve noticed that blond is sometimes spelled with an ‘e’ at the end, and sometimes it’s not. Is there a difference between blond or blonde with an ‘e’?
When is it correct to write blonde vs. blond? Will reading the word blond/blonde so many times in a row turn your hair . . . blond . . . or is it blonde? Keep reading to find out.
Blond or blonde, explained
| Examples with “blond” | Examples with “blonde” |
| He’s been a blond his whole life. | She has blonde hair like her dad. |
Blond and blonde are two correct spellings of the same word. Both refer to hair that is “pale gold in colour”. Blond and blonde can be both an adjective or a noun, but not in the same sentence of course.
Because blonde and blond entered English from French, blond traditionally was used for men or boys (and has a masculine French ending). Blonde would be for women and girls (uses the feminine French of “e”). Whether it’s relevant nowadays to follow the traditional French masculine/feminine form of blond and blonde is a personal choice; we’re just here as a guide, and to give you the facts. Either way, whichever spelling you choose, the meaning of the word will still be in tact (which is the most important thing, folks!)
- As an adjective, blond/blonde describes hair that is yellow, or “pale gold” (which is a much prettier way of saying light yellow). The shade blond/blonde as an adjective also describes non-hair related things, like coffee, beer, and sometimes even furniture (e.g., “I love that blond credenza you just bought!”)
Examples of blond/blonde as an adjective
The child had short blond curls and large blue eyes.
The sun dyed her hair slightly blonde.
I prefer a blonde roast over dark.
As a noun, blond/blonde refers to a man or a woman with light-brown/yellowish (blondish) hair. An example of blond/blonde as a noun is, “Will is the only blond in his family“.
Examples of blond/blonde as a noun
She and her sister are both blondes.
She had long blonde hair.
A blonde-haired girl walked in
Synonyms of blond/blonde
- golden
- bleached
- ash
- fair
- gold
- light
- sandy
- yellow
- flaxen
- platinum
- towheaded
Phrases with blond/blonde
- To have a blond/blonde moment (to do something unintelligent or forgetful, based on the stereotype of blonde’s not being smart)
- Blond/blonde bombshell (referring to an attractive blonde, usually a woman)
Origin of blond/blonde
Of hair, “of a golden or light golden-brown color,” late 15c., from Old French blont “fair, blond” (12c.), from the same source as Medieval Latin blundus “yellow,” but of uncertain origin.
Check out other commonly confused words!
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of blond.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/blond. Accessed 18 October, 2023.
