If you’re one of those people who is never sure whether to use blond or blonde, take heart. There’s a reason for your confusion, and it’s that you’re used to seeing both. Blond(e) is a rare bird seldom seen in the English language: a gendered adjectives Men are blond, while women are blonde.
Are there other gendered adjectives in English? It depends on who you ask. Some sources will tell you that blond(e) is the only one. Others will tell you that blond(e) is “one of very few,” but won’t give you the other examples. Brunet(te), blond(e)’s darker cousin, is considered a gendered adjective by some sources, though the male brunet has largely fallen out of use.
Blond(e), however, still differentiates — a nod to its visible French roots.
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