Meaning
dark gray, almost black
- brown, dark brown
- dark-haired (of a person)
- dark, dusky
In a sentence
Ha i capelli bruni e gli occhi chiari.
He has brown hair and light eyes.
Perché hai preso il maglione bruno?
Why did you take the dark brown sweater?
Non mi piace quel cane bruno.
I don't like that dark gray dog.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| bruno | masculine · singular |
| bruna | feminine · singular |
| bruni | masculine · plural |
| brune | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For hair, skin, or eyes, Italian usually prefers moro, castano, or scuro; bruno sounds literary, descriptive, or regional.
- Bruno agrees in gender and number: bruno, bruna, bruni, brune.
- For animal fur or coat color, bruno is more natural than marrone in many contexts.