Learning how to say basic words in another language can be very helpful when you are traveling or trying to connect with people from different cultures. One of the most common words you’ll need to know is “hair.” It’s a simple word, but knowing how to say it in another language opens up many possibilities for conversation. In this article, we’ll learn how to say “hair” in French, and explore different ways to use the word in sentences.
Knowing how to use the word “hair” in French is a great starting point for improving your French vocabulary. Whether you’re talking about a friend’s new haircut or describing someone’s appearance, this word will come in handy. Let’s dive in and explore how to say “hair” in French and its different forms!
Ways to Say “Hair” in French
There are a few ways to say “hair” in French, depending on the context and how you use it. Below are some common ways to say it along with their meanings and examples in sentences.
1. Cheveux (pronounced: shuh-voo)
- Applicable for: General use, referring to hair on a person’s head.
- Meaning: This is the most common word for “hair” and is used when talking about someone’s hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a les cheveux longs. (She has long hair.)
- Ses cheveux sont blonds. (Her hair is blonde.)
2. Chevelure (pronounced: shev-uh-loor)
- Applicable for: More poetic or formal use, referring to hair in a more descriptive way.
- Meaning: A more elegant or literary term for “hair,” often used to describe someone’s full head of hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Sa chevelure est brillante. (Her hair is shiny.)
- Il a une chevelure épaisse. (He has thick hair.)
3. Poils (pronounced: pwah)
- Applicable for: Hair on the body, not the head, like body hair or animal fur.
- Meaning: This word is used for hair on other parts of the body, such as arms, legs, or chest.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a des poils sur les bras. (He has hair on his arms.)
- Le chien a les poils courts. (The dog has short fur.)
4. Mèche (pronounced: mesh)
- Applicable for: A single strand of hair or a lock of hair.
- Meaning: This word is used when referring to a specific section or strand of hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a une mèche de cheveux tombant sur son visage. (She has a lock of hair falling on her face.)
- J’ai une mèche rouge dans mes cheveux. (I have a red streak in my hair.)
5. Crinière (pronounced: kree-nee-air)
- Applicable for: Refers to the mane of an animal, often used for people with very thick or wild hair.
- Meaning: This term is typically used for horses but can also describe very thick or wild human hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a une crinière sauvage. (He has wild hair.)
- Sa crinière est très épaisse. (Her hair is very thick.)
6. Touffe (pronounced: toof)
- Applicable for: A small bunch or tuft of hair.
- Meaning: This word refers to a small amount or a patch of hair, often messy.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a une touffe de cheveux sur le côté de sa tête. (He has a tuft of hair on the side of his head.)
- Elle porte une touffe de cheveux frisés. (She has a tuft of curly hair.)
7. Barbe (pronounced: barb)
- Applicable for: Beard or facial hair.
- Meaning: This term refers specifically to facial hair, especially a beard.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a une barbe noire. (He has a black beard.)
- Elle n’aime pas les barbes. (She doesn’t like beards.)
8. Perruque (pronounced: per-ook)
- Applicable for: Wig or fake hair.
- Meaning: This word refers to a wig or artificial hair, often worn by people who are bald or for costumes.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une perruque blonde. (She wears a blonde wig.)
- Sa perruque est très réaliste. (Her wig is very realistic.)
9. Frisure (pronounced: free-zur)
- Applicable for: Referring to a style or type of hair.
- Meaning: This word is used to describe a hairstyle, especially curls or waves.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a une frisure naturelle. (She has natural curls.)
- Sa frisure est magnifique. (Her hairstyle is beautiful.)
10. Calvitie (pronounced: kal-vee-tee)
- Applicable for: Receding hairline or baldness.
- Meaning: This term refers to the condition of losing hair, typically from the scalp.
- In a Sentence:
- Il commence à avoir la calvitie. (He’s starting to lose his hair.)
- La calvitie peut arriver avec l’âge. (Baldness can happen with age.)
11. Tignasse (pronounced: teen-yass)
- Applicable for: Thick, unruly hair.
- Meaning: A playful or informal term for messy, thick hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Sa tignasse est difficile à coiffer. (Her thick hair is hard to style.)
- Il a une tignasse rebelle. (He has wild hair.)
12. Boucles (pronounced: book-luh)
- Applicable for: Curls.
- Meaning: This refers to curly hair or curls.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a de belles boucles. (She has beautiful curls.)
- Mes boucles deviennent plus serrées quand il pleut. (My curls get tighter when it rains.)
13. Racines (pronounced: ra-seen)
- Applicable for: The roots of the hair.
- Meaning: This refers to the base of the hair, where it grows from the scalp.
- In a Sentence:
- Les racines de mes cheveux sont grasses. (The roots of my hair are oily.)
- Elle a teint ses racines en brun. (She dyed her roots brown.)
14. Chignon (pronounced: shee-nyon)
- Applicable for: A bun hairstyle.
- Meaning: This refers to a hair bun, especially when it is neatly styled.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte souvent un chignon. (She often wears a bun.)
- Il a fait un chignon pour la fête. (He made a bun for the party.)
15. Queue de cheval (pronounced: koo duh sheh-val)
- Applicable for: Ponytail.
- Meaning: This is the French term for a ponytail, when hair is tied back.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte toujours une queue de cheval. (She always wears a ponytail.)
- Il a attaché ses cheveux en une queue de cheval. (He tied his hair in a ponytail.)
16. Mouvement (pronounced: moo-vuh-mahn)
- Applicable for: Hair movement or flow.
- Meaning: Refers to the way hair moves or flows.
- In a Sentence:
- Le mouvement de ses cheveux était fluide. (The movement of her hair was smooth.)
- Elle secoue ses cheveux avec un mouvement gracieux. (She shakes her hair with a graceful movement.)
17. Poussée (pronounced: poo-say)
- Applicable for: Hair growth.
- Meaning: This word refers to the process of hair growing.
- In a Sentence:
- La poussée de mes cheveux a été rapide. (The growth of my hair was fast.)
- Il attend la poussée de sa barbe. (He’s waiting for his beard to grow.)
18. Plumer (pronounced: plu-may)
- Applicable for: To remove hair, especially feathers or fur.
- Meaning: This refers to removing hair, often used for animals or plucking.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle doit plumer les poils de son chat. (She has to remove the fur from her cat.)
- J’ai plumé mes sourcils. (I plucked my eyebrows.)
19. Rasé (pronounced: rah-zay)
- Applicable for: Shaved hair.
- Meaning: This refers to shaved hair, particularly a clean shave.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a la tête rasée. (He has a shaved head.)
- Elle préfère un look rasé. (She prefers a shaved look.)
20. Perruque afro (pronounced: per-ook ah-froh)
- Applicable for: An afro wig.
- Meaning: This term specifically refers to an afro-style wig or hairstyle.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle porte une perruque afro pour le carnaval. (She wears an afro wig for the carnival.)
- Il a acheté une perruque afro pour le film. (He bought an afro wig for the movie.)
21. Paupières (pronounced: poo-pyayr)
- Applicable for: Eyebrow hair.
- Meaning: This refers to the hair around the eyes, like eyebrows.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a de beaux sourcils. (She has beautiful eyebrows.)
- Ses paupières sont parfaitement dessinées. (Her eyebrows are perfectly shaped.)
22. Cicatrices de cheveux (pronounced: see-ka-tree duh shev-uh)
- Applicable for: Scalp scars.
- Meaning: This refers to scars on the scalp, where hair may not grow.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a des cicatrices de cheveux à cause de l’accident. (He has scalp scars from the accident.)
- Les cicatrices de cheveux peuvent être cachées sous les cheveux. (Scalp scars can be hidden under the hair.)
23. Soyeux (pronounced: swah-yuh)
- Applicable for: Silky or smooth hair.
- Meaning: Used to describe very soft and smooth hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a les cheveux soyeux. (She has silky hair.)
- J’adore toucher mes cheveux soyeux. (I love touching my silky hair.)
24. Clips (pronounced: kleeb)
- Applicable for: Hair clips.
- Meaning: Refers to small clips used to style or hold hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a mis des clips dans ses cheveux. (She put clips in her hair.)
- Mes cheveux sont maintenus avec des clips. (My hair is held with clips.)
25. Tressé (pronounced: tres-ay)
- Applicable for: Braided hair.
- Meaning: This refers to hair that has been braided.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a les cheveux tressés. (She has braided hair.)
- Il a tressé ses cheveux ce matin. (He braided his hair this morning.)
26. Frange (pronounced: frahnj)
- Applicable for: Bangs or fringe hair.
- Meaning: This word refers to bangs or fringe, the section of hair cut to hang over the forehead.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a une frange courte. (She has short bangs.)
- J’aime ma frange longue. (I like my long fringe.)
27. Crâne (pronounced: krah-nuh)
- Applicable for: Skull or head, often used when referring to baldness.
- Meaning: This refers to the skull, but it’s also used in the context of a bald head.
- In a Sentence:
- Il a un crâne chauve. (He has a bald head.)
- La coupe de crâne est tendance. (The shaved head is trendy.)
Other Ways to Say “Hair” in French
Here is a table with more alternatives for saying “hair” in French, including pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences. These terms can help you describe hair in different ways, depending on the context.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Mèche | mesh | A strand or lock of hair. | Elle a une mèche blonde. (She has a blonde lock of hair.) |
| Crinière | kree-nee-air | Refers to a thick mane of hair. | Il a une crinière imposante. (He has an impressive mane.) |
| Poils | pwah | Refers to body hair or animal fur. | Les poils de mon chat sont doux. (My cat’s fur is soft.) |
| Barbe | barb | Refers to a beard or facial hair. | Il porte une barbe bien taillée. (He has a well-groomed beard.) |
| Queue de cheval | koo duh sheh-val | Ponytail. | Elle a une queue de cheval haute. (She has a high ponytail.) |
| Frisure | free-zur | A type of curly or wavy hairstyle. | Sa frisure est naturelle. (Her hair is naturally curly.) |
| Tignasse | teen-yass | Thick, messy, or wild hair. | Sa tignasse est difficile à gérer. (Her wild hair is hard to manage.) |
| Plumer | plu-may | To pluck or remove hair. | Je dois plumer mes sourcils. (I need to pluck my eyebrows.) |
| Perruque | per-ook | A wig or artificial hair. | Il a acheté une perruque pour Halloween. (He bought a wig for Halloween.) |
| Rasé | rah-zay | Shaved hair. | Il est complètement rasé. (He is completely shaved.) |
| Crâne | krah-nuh | Refers to a bald head or skull. | Il a un crâne brillant. (He has a shiny bald head.) |
| Poussée | poo-say | Refers to hair growth. | La poussée de ses cheveux a été rapide. (His hair grew quickly.) |
| Mouvement | moo-vuh-mahn | The flow or movement of hair. | Le mouvement de ses cheveux est fluide. (Her hair moves smoothly.) |
| Chignon | shee-nyon | A bun hairstyle. | Elle a fait un chignon élégant. (She made an elegant bun.) |
| Soyeux | swah-yuh | Soft and silky hair. | Ses cheveux sont soyeux et brillants. (Her hair is soft and shiny.) |
| Tressé | tres-ay | Braided hair. | Elle a les cheveux tressés. (She has braided hair.) |
| Frange | frahnj | Bangs or fringe. | Elle a une frange droite. (She has straight bangs.) |
| Clips | kleeb | Hair clips used to style or hold hair. | Elle utilise des clips pour maintenir ses cheveux. (She uses clips to hold her hair.) |
| Perruque afro | per-ook ah-froh | An afro wig. | Il a mis une perruque afro. (He put on an afro wig.) |
Response to “Hair” in French
When someone talks about “hair” in French, it’s important to know how to respond appropriately, depending on the situation. Here are some common ways you might respond in French when someone mentions hair, along with explanations and example sentences.
1. C’est magnifique !
- Meaning: “It’s magnificent!”
- Explanation: This is a great response if you want to compliment someone on their hair, especially if it’s styled or looks really good.
- In a Sentence:
- Wow, tes cheveux sont superbes !
- C’est magnifique ! (Wow, your hair is stunning! It’s magnificent!)
2. J’aime beaucoup tes cheveux.
- Meaning: “I really like your hair.”
- Explanation: This is a simple compliment, showing appreciation for someone’s hairstyle or color.
- In a Sentence:
- Tes boucles sont belles.
- J’aime beaucoup tes cheveux. (Your curls are beautiful. I really like your hair.)
3. Comment tu fais pour avoir des cheveux aussi beaux ?
- Meaning: “How do you get your hair to look so nice?”
- Explanation: This question is a way to ask for hair care tips. It’s a nice way to show interest in someone’s hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Wow, tes cheveux sont brillants.
- Comment tu fais pour avoir des cheveux aussi beaux ? (Wow, your hair is shiny. How do you get your hair to look so nice?)
4. Tu as changé de coiffure ?
- Meaning: “Did you change your hairstyle?”
- Explanation: A polite way to ask if someone has a new haircut or style.
- In a Sentence:
- Tu as les cheveux plus courts aujourd’hui.
- Tu as changé de coiffure ? (You have shorter hair today. Did you change your hairstyle?)
5. C’est une belle couleur de cheveux.
- Meaning: “That’s a beautiful hair color.”
- Explanation: This is a compliment you can give if someone has a unique or vibrant hair color.
- In a Sentence:
- J’adore ta couleur de cheveux !
- C’est une belle couleur de cheveux. (I love your hair color! That’s a beautiful hair color.)
6. Tes cheveux sont superbes, quel produit utilises-tu ?
- Meaning: “Your hair is amazing, what product do you use?”
- Explanation: A way to ask someone for hair care recommendations.
- In a Sentence:
- Tes cheveux sont doux et brillants.
- Tes cheveux sont superbes, quel produit utilises-tu ? (Your hair is soft and shiny. Your hair is amazing, what product do you use?)
7. Ça te va très bien.
- Meaning: “It suits you very well.”
- Explanation: A great response when someone has a new haircut or hairstyle that looks great on them.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a coupé ses cheveux courts.
- Ça te va très bien. (She cut her hair short. It suits you very well.)
8. Tu as des cheveux magnifiques.
- Meaning: “You have beautiful hair.”
- Explanation: A straightforward and sincere compliment about someone’s hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Tes cheveux sont tellement lisses.
- Tu as des cheveux magnifiques. (Your hair is so smooth. You have beautiful hair.)
9. Tu as beaucoup de cheveux !
- Meaning: “You have a lot of hair!”
- Explanation: This can be said if someone has very thick or long hair.
- In a Sentence:
- Regarde, elle a une chevelure énorme.
- Tu as beaucoup de cheveux ! (Look, she has a huge head of hair. You have a lot of hair!)
10. J’adore ta coupe de cheveux !
- Meaning: “I love your haircut!”
- Explanation: A friendly and enthusiastic response when someone has a fresh haircut.
- In a Sentence:
- Elle a une coupe de cheveux moderne.
- J’adore ta coupe de cheveux ! (She has a modern haircut. I love your haircut!)
Exercise to Practice Success with “Hair” in French
Below is a list of 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises using the different ways to say “hair” in French. The sentences are in French, and after each exercise, I’ll provide the answers and their meanings to help you practice.
1. Elle a les ________ très longs et brillants.
- Answer: cheveux
- Meaning: She has very long and shiny hair.
2. Je dois me couper ________ parce qu’ils sont trop longs.
- Answer: les cheveux
- Meaning: I need to cut my hair because it’s too long.
3. Elle adore sa ________ bouclée.
- Answer: frisure
- Meaning: She loves her curly hairstyle.
4. Son ________ est si épais qu’il est difficile à coiffer.
- Answer: tignasse
- Meaning: His hair is so thick that it’s hard to style.
5. Il a ________ très épaisse, comme un lion.
- Answer: une crinière
- Meaning: He has a very thick mane, like a lion’s.
6. Elle porte toujours ________ en ________.
- Answer: une queue de cheval / chignon
- Meaning: She always wears a ponytail or bun.
7. Il a ________ rasé pour l’été.
- Answer: les cheveux
- Meaning: He shaved his hair for the summer.
8. Elle aime mettre ________ dans ________ pour les maintenir en place.
- Answer: des clips / ses cheveux
- Meaning: She likes putting clips in her hair to keep it in place.
9. Mon ________ est un peu court, je vais le laisser pousser.
- Answer: cheveu
- Meaning: My hair is a little short, I will let it grow.
10. Il a ________ tellement soyeux que tout le monde le remarque.
- Answer: les cheveux
- Meaning: He has such silky hair that everyone notices.
11. Elle a ________ très colorée après avoir utilisé de la teinture.
- Answer: la couleur des cheveux
- Meaning: She has very colorful hair after using dye.
12. J’adore ________ quand elle est bien coiffée.
- Answer: sa chevelure
- Meaning: I love her hair when it’s well-styled.
Answers
- cheveux
She has very long and shiny hair. - les cheveux
I need to cut my hair because it’s too long. - frisure
She loves her curly hairstyle. - tignasse
His hair is so thick that it’s hard to style. - une crinière
He has a very thick mane, like a lion’s. - une queue de cheval / chignon
She always wears a ponytail or bun. - les cheveux
He shaved his hair for the summer. - des clips / ses cheveux
She likes putting clips in her hair to keep it in place. - cheveu
My hair is a little short, I will let it grow. - les cheveux
He has such silky hair that everyone notices. - la couleur des cheveux
She has very colorful hair after using dye. - sa chevelure
I love her hair when it’s well-styled.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “hair” in French is an important step in building your vocabulary, especially when it comes to describing people and their appearance. In this article, we explored different ways to say “hair,” from the most common word cheveux to more specific terms like frisure (hairstyle) and crinière (mane). Understanding these variations will help you be more precise and expressive in your conversations.
Whether you’re complimenting someone’s hair, asking for tips, or simply making an observation, knowing the right term for the situation is key. With the exercises provided, you can practice these terms and get more comfortable using them in everyday French. Keep practicing, and soon, talking about hair in French will feel as natural as it does in your own language!