What Are French Hats Called?

A French hat is commonly called a beret. This type of hat is round and flat and is typically constructed of a very soft material, such as cotton, hand-knitted wool, felt or even acrylic fibers.

The French beret is well known as a symbol of the military in France and Spain. Soldiers wore these hats as a part of their military uniforms, and the hats would sit slightly on one side of the head or the other. This type of hat was originally created and worn by shepherds in the French Pyrenees to help protect their heads from moisture while out guarding their sheep.