Flair Comes From a Word for Smell
Flair is natural talent or stylishness. The French word behind it means a sense of smell, as in a dog following a scent.
Flair is a natural talent for something, or distinctive stylishness. The French *flair* means a sense of smell, from hunting — a dog with good flair can follow a scent others miss. English took the metaphor and dropped the nose, so a person with flair for languages simply has an instinct for them. It is often confused with *flare*, a burst of light or a widening shape, which is an entirely different word.
- Natural talent. *A flair for numbers.*
- Stylishness. *Dressed with flair.*
- Flare — the confused word. *A distress flare.*
- French — *flair*, a sense of smell. *The source.*
- Panache — a close synonym. *Real panache.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | flair | Great flair. |
| Different word | flare | A bright flare. |
| French | flairer | To smell out. |
| Synonym | panache | Panache. |
| Synonym | knack | A knack for it. |
- She has a flair for design.Talent.
- He cooks with real flair.Style.
- A flare lit up the sky.The other word.
Words for natural ability
- Flair — instinctive talent, often with style
- Knack — a practical ability, often small and specific
- Gift — a strong natural ability
- Aptitude — a measurable capacity to learn something
- Panache — style and confidence rather than ability itself
French *flair*, a sense of smell, from *flairer*, to smell out, from Late Latin *flagrare*, a variant of *fragrare*, to smell sweet.
Flair or flare?
Flair is talent or style. Flare is a burst of light, a sudden increase, or a widening shape.
Why does flair mean talent?
From hunting, where a dog's flair is its sense of smell. Someone with flair has an instinct for finding the right thing.