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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

Let's talk about hair and eyes

Hi,
this is really basic question, I hope it's ok if I put it here...

I would like to know how to describe the color of someone's hair or eyes.
Here are the typical association we use in Italy.

Eyes and hair can be light/dark --> In English this is fair/dark.
Eyes: blue, light blue, green, hazel, light hazel, dark hazel, black.
Hair: white, gray, red, blond, hazel, light hazel, dark hazel, black.

What are the typical associations in English?
I'm afraid you don't use "black", at least weh referring to eyes. I read that black eyes is what you get after someone punches you, lol

Thanks Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Honestly, I've never heard of "black eyes" to describe the iris - only dark brown. Yes, a "black eye" is what you get when someone punches you, although I got one once when I got hit with by the door of my friend's locker in high school. ) "Black" is a misnomer, though.

— BarbaraPA

  • Honestly, I've never heard of "black eyes" to describe the iris - only dark brown.
  • Yes, a "black eye" is what you get when someone punches you, although I got one once when I got hit with by the door of my friend's locker in high school.
  • ) "Black" is a misnomer, though.
  • It was green and yellow and purple Hair is not hazel.
  • You also have strawberry blond, light brown, dark brown, chestnus, "salt and pepper" (when you are going gray)
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19 Answers
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Honestly, I've never heard of "black eyes" to describe the iris - only dark brown.

Yes, a "black eye" is what you get when someone punches you, although I got one once when I got hit with by the door of my friend's locker in high school. (She had a picture of a really hot guy, and I bent down to look at him just as she went to slam it shut.) "Black" is a misnomer, though. It was green an
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Hi GG,
I see thanks.

Sorry to ask again, but I just want to be sure I understand...

All the associations I use in Italian are ok then, apart from hazel hair and black eyes?

Eyes: blue, light blue, green, hazel, light hazel, dark hazel, black.
Hair: white, gray, red, blond, hazel, light hazel, dark hazel
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You sure can.

My younger daughter has light brown hair.

Also, auburn hair...

I'm not saying that you can't say someone has black eyes (versus "a black eye") it's just that I'm not sure I've seen eyes that are truly black.
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Ok, thanks! Now I just have to find a way to remember what you just told me... Hmm, I guess I'll write it somewhere Emotion: smile
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I think you can certainly describe someone as having black eyes.
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You can have "ginger" hair too.

I'm not sure many people would distinguish between light and dark hazel eyes.

Houris have black eyes. Eyes can also be violet; in photographs, red.

MrP
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KhoffI think you can certainly describe someone as having black eyes.
Even if no one punched them?
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Hi MrP,
my dictionary says "ginger hair" is BrE... I don't know if that's true anyway, you'll have to wait for the Yankees Emotion: wink
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Use "black hair" with complete freedom! (And like I said, it's not that you can't say someone has black eyes; I've just never seen eyes I'd describe that way. It's "a black eye" that says that the person has that peculiar bruise.)
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Ok, ok, thanks! I see.
Could I ask another little thing? If anyone has time, it's not very important, but I wonder...
...do native speakers are more likely to say "dark hair" or "black hair"? I'm going to post a pic this time.
Would natives say this girl has "dark hair" or "black hair"?

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