Quick answer
Flair is a natural talent or stylishness — a flair for languages, dressed with flair. A flare is a sudden burst of flame or light, a signal device, or a widening shape as in flared trousers. Talent takes the I.
The core difference
A quality and a physical burst, one letter apart.
- flair — natural talent or style: a flair for design.
- flare — a burst of flame or light; to widen: a distress flare, flared jeans, tempers flared.
The origins
Flair came from French, where it meant a sense of smell — the hunting sense of a dog's nose, extended to an instinct for something. Flare is English and of uncertain origin. So the talent sense literally started as a nose for things.
Where they nearly meet
Flare also means to intensify suddenly — tempers flare, a condition flares up. That figurative use is common enough that "tempers flaired" occasionally appears, which is the error to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Which spelling means talent?
Flair, with the I.
Is it "tempers flared" or "flaired"?
Flared — the sudden-intensifying sense belongs to flare.
Where does flair come from?
French, where it originally meant a sense of smell — extended to mean an instinct or knack for something.
