aux cheveux poils de carotte

Sydney B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

aux cheveux poils de carotte

What is the need for having two words for hair in this expression?

This question relates to:French interactive reading exercise "Romance au marché"

Reading B2, Language & Education, Family & Relationships, Listening or Seeing B2

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer3

CécileKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Hi Sydney,

Maarten beat me to it, I did spot this yesterday and asked for it to be corrected before answering you.

The colour poil-de-carotte ( invariable) is used to avoid saying

roux

rouquin

it means red-haired/ ginger.

Bonne Continuation !

Like13 years ago

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

This is 'poil de carotte' as an adjective (expression) for 'ginger/red' - qualifying the noun cheveux. According to wordreference and Larousse though it is invariable, does not take agreement, and should not be 'poils de carotte'.

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/poil_de_carotte/663125

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/carotte

Like03 years ago

JOHNNY F.A0Kwiziq community member

who knows

Like02 years ago

Sydney B. asked:

aux cheveux poils de carotte

What is the need for having two words for hair in this expression?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

« Alternate answers within the exercises Sa mère et moi l'avons seulement assistée avec les démarches administratives. »

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level