Blond or Blonde: Clear Up the Confusion!

Last updated on September 18, 2024 by Liam Daniel

Is the correct spelling blond or blonde? Sometimes it might be very difficult to figure out which one is correct because these two words sound exactly the same and only differ by a single letter in writing. However, it’s necessary to know when you need and when you don’t need that extra -e at the end, just so you avoid making silly mistakes. Read on to solve the blonde vs. blond dilemma.

Blond or Blonde: the Main Differences

Quick Tips:

  • In American English, use “blond” for males and gender-neutral situations. “Blonde” is still often used for females.
  • In British English, use “blond” for males and “blonde” for females.
Blond or Blonde
Blond or Blonde – Created by 7ESL

Blond or Blonde: Definition, Usage

Blond:

  • Meaning: Refers to a person with light-colored or golden hair, regardless of gender.
  • Use: In American English, “blond” is commonly used for both males and females, although some still use “blonde” for females. In British English, “blond” is typically used for males.
  • Examples:
    • “He is a blond man.”
    • “The blond hair shone in the sunlight.”
  • Explanation: “Blond” can be used as a noun or an adjective, especially when referring to men, or as a gender-neutral form in American English.

Blonde:

  • Meaning: Specifically refers to a woman or girl with light-colored hair.
  • Use: In American English, “blonde” is often used to refer to women, while “blond” is more gender-neutral. In British English, “blonde” is traditionally used for females only.
  • Examples:
    • “She is a blonde woman.”
    • “The actress had striking blonde hair.”
  • Explanation: “Blonde” is typically used to refer to females, especially in British English, and is considered the feminine form.

Blonde vs. Blond | Origin

If you know French, this distinction might be very obvious to you. Indeed, these words come from French where, in many adjective, an -e is added at the end when it refers to a woman.

This rule is especially strictly followed in British English. For instance, you will say “Anna is a tall blonde with green eyes” but “Michael is a tall blond with green eyes“. Similarly, you will say “The blonde woman smiled politely” but “The blond man smiled politely“. Notice that in the first pair of sentences, blond and blonde are nouns, while in the second pair, they are adjectives.

In American English, this distinction only applies to nouns. So, you would say that Anna is a blonde or that Michael is a blond. However, if you need an adjective, you will always need to use blond, no matter which noun you are referring to. So, an American would say that both the blond woman and blond man smiled politely.

What about inanimate objects? When you want to say that an object has this light yellowish color, you should stick to blond. Therefore, you might have a blond table or a blond chair in your kitchen.

If you know French, remembering the difference between blond vs blonde won’t be difficult for you. And if you don’t know French, there still is a very simple trick that will help you. Blond refers to males, while blonde refers to females, and both blond and male are shorter words than blonde and female. Keeping this in mind, you will never confuse these two similar words or unwillingly offend anyone by misusing them.

Common Mistakes:

Using “blonde” for males in British English:

  • Incorrect: “He is a blonde man.”
  • Correct: “He is a blond man.”
  • Explanation: In British English, “blond” is used for males and “blonde” for females.

Confusing the forms in American English:

  • Incorrect: “That boy is blonde.”
  • Correct: “That boy is blond.”
  • Explanation: In American English, “blond” is more commonly used as a gender-neutral form.

Blond or Blonde Examples

Examples of “Blond” 

  1. He has short, blond hair and blue eyes.
  2. The child’s blond curls were adorable.
  3. They were looking for a tall, blond actor for the role.
  4. The puppy is blond with a few darker spots on its back.

Examples of “Blonde” 

  1. She is known for her long, blonde hair.
  2. The painting depicted a beautiful blonde woman by the sea.
  3. Marilyn Monroe was a famous blonde actress from the golden age of Hollywood.
  4. The little girl wanted a doll with blonde hair like hers.

Practical Exercises

In our quest to master the usage of “blond” and “blonde,” we’ve put together a set of exercises to enhance our understanding. Let’s dive in together!

Identify the Correct Usage:

  • For each sentence below, choose whether “blond” or “blonde” is appropriate:
    1. Our cousin has long, ___ hair.
    2. The ___ gentleman entered the room.
    3. She styled her ___ locks beautifully.

Answer:

  1. blond
  2. blond
  3. blonde

Fill in the Blanks:

  1. “Bl___” can be used for both males and females, but typically it’s masculine.
  2. “Bl___e” ends with an ‘e’ and is used to describe a female with light-colored hair.

Answer:

  1. blond
  2. blonde

Match the Gender:

  • Match the correct word to the gender it traditionally describes. Write “blond” or “blonde” in the blanks:
    1. Female: ____
    2. Male: ____

Answer:

  1. blonde
  2. blond
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