cheveux roux
In French, ginger hair is said as cheveux roux.
The phrase cheveux roux is used to describe hair that is naturally reddish-orange in color. When you want to say that someone 'has' ginger hair, you should use the construction avoir les cheveux roux, which uses the verb avoir (to have) followed by the definite article les (the).
Which one should you use?
Use cheveux roux to refer to a person's natural hair color. If you were to use the phrase cheveux rouges, it would imply that the hair has been dyed red rather than being a natural shade.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cheveux is masculine, so the adjective roux stays in its masculine form when attached to it. However, if you use the adjective to describe a woman directly, such as in the phrase une femme rousse, the adjective changes to the feminine form rousse.
Did you know?
- The word roux is also used in French cooking to describe a mixture of fat and flour cooked together to thicken sauces.
- In French folklore and old superstitions, people with cheveux roux were sometimes unfairly associated with witchcraft or betrayal.
- The word roux shares a common ancestor with the English word 'russet', which is used to describe a reddish-brown color or a type of apple.
Examples in context
- Ma sœur a les cheveux roux.My sister has ginger hair.This sentence is useful for describing a family member using the form cheveux roux.Tatoeba #10741931 by carlosalberto, translation #10741883 by carlosalberto
- Elle a de beaux cheveux roux.She has beautiful ginger hair.
- Sa longue chevelure rousse était éblouissante.Her long ginger hair was dazzling.
- J'adore tes cheveux flamboyants !I love your fiery hair!
- Il a les cheveux roux.He has ginger hair.
- Je préfère les cheveux roux.I prefer ginger hair.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about people they know in a cafe.
- ChloéEst-ce que tu connais le nouveau voisin ?Do you know the new neighbor?
- LucasOui, il a les cheveux roux, n'est-ce pas ?Yes, he has ginger hair, doesn't he?
- ChloéC'est vrai, il est très reconnaissable.That's true, he is very recognizable.
- LucasIl a un style très sympa.He has a very nice style.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries roux, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
