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nounnoun

la rousseur

red hair

Definition & meaning

Rousseur is a feminine French noun with two related meanings:

  1. A freckle, especially a small brownish or reddish spot on the skin, usually appearing on the face, hands, or arms. It is most commonly used in the plural:

    • des rousseurs — freckles
    • une tache de rousseur — a freckle

  2. A reddish or auburn color, especially in hair, fur, or sometimes a surface:

    • la rousseur de ses cheveux — the reddish color of his or her hair

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: feminine
  • Singular: une rousseur
  • Plural: des rousseurs
  • Pronunciation: /ʁu.sœʁ/

The word comes from roux , meaning “red-haired,” “reddish,” or “auburn,” with the suffix -eur, which forms nouns expressing a quality, state, or characteristic.

In the sense of freckles, the word is generally used in the plural: avoir des rousseurs .

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

For the meaning “freckles”:

  • tache de rousseur — the ordinary and most precise expression for “freckle”
  • éphélide — a technical or medical term for a freckle

For the meaning “reddish color”:

  • couleur rousse — a more explicit and neutral expression for auburn or reddish color
  • teinte rousse — emphasizes the shade or tint

Antonyms

There is no exact common antonym for rousseur. Depending on the context, contrasting words may include:

  • pâleur — paleness, especially when discussing the color of skin
  • blancheur — whiteness or a very light color, contrasting with reddish coloring

Common phrases & collocations

  • avoir des rousseurs — to have freckles
  • être couvert(e) de rousseurs — to be covered in freckles
  • la rousseur des cheveux — the reddish or auburn color of the hair
  • des rousseurs sur le visage — freckles on the face

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Examples

Certaines personnes considèrent la rousseur comme un trait unique.noun

Some people consider red hair to be a unique trait.

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