What is the difference between the Italian words bruna and brunetta?

Question

I know they have similar meanings concerning dark hair but what is the true difference. Grazie!

Answer 1

Bruna is the real word and Brunetta is the diminutive form. In the same time they are also names.

In Italian -etto (male), -etta (female) and -ino, -ina, are diminutives that you can use with quiet all words and names.

And the choise using one form or another is only by customs.

With many words you can both use:

Casa (House) = Casina, Casetta

Ragazzo (Boy) = Ragazzino, Ragazzetto

and so on. Often the use of the diminutive form changes the attribute of the word, like in Casa. If you say Casina you are saying about a little and gracious house, Casetta is more romantic and very nice form. A couple would say: our Casetta, never our Casina. Hope this help. Ciao.

Italiano D.O.C.

Answer 2

Brunetta is always referred to young cute and attractive women and is not only concern dark hair my be tanned as well. Bruna is more general to any woman at any age

Answer 3

In standard Italian is not too used the word "bruna" to call a dark hair woman. We rather call her "mora"- However if the woman is not too tall, rather short, we call her 'brunetta' or 'morettina' or 'moretta'. All are diminutive forms to identify a dark hair woman not too tall.

Bruna is also a very common Italian first name and it's not mandatory women with this name are dark hair...!!

Answer 4

I'm am italian. Bruna is about dark hair, It's the color Brunetta instead is its diminutive. the first is use for a woman or a girl, while the second for a chil. But Brunetta is a name of person too.

good bye.

Sorry for the English!