barbier
/baʁ.bje/masculine
The English word "barber" is barbier in French.
The term barbier refers to a person whose profession is cutting (usually male) customers' hair and beards.
Meaning: person whose profession is cutting (usually male) customers' hair and beards (noun)
Which one should you use?
While barbier refers specifically to a barber who focuses on beards and traditional shaving, coiffeur is the more common, general term for a hairdresser or barber used for hair styling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of the noun is barbier. If you are referring to a female barber, use the feminine form barbière.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /baʁ.bje/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In the Middle Ages, a barbier was often a barbier-chirurgien, meaning they performed minor surgeries and pulled teeth in addition to cutting hair.
- The traditional red and white pole outside a barbier symbolizes blood and bandages from the era of barber-surgeons.
- Modern French shops often use the English word 'Barbershop' instead of salon de barbier to evoke a vintage American style.
Examples in context
- Va chez le barbier.Go to the barber.This sentence is useful for telling someone to go to the barber.Tatoeba #128495 by Micsmithel, translation #268104 by CM
- Ziri est devenu barbier.Ziri became a barber.This sentence is useful for stating someone's profession.Tatoeba #11764058 by Amastan, translation #10209443 by Amastan
- Tom est le barbier de Jean.Tom is John's barber.This sentence is useful for identifying a person's professional relationship to someone else.Tatoeba #10727167 by Rovo, translation #10727062 by shekitten
- Mon coiffeur est le meilleur du quartier!My barber is the best in the neighborhood!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is looking for a place to get a haircut.
- ManonTu cherches un barbier ?Are you looking for a barber?
- GabrielOui, je cherche un bon barbier.Yes, I am looking for a good barber.
- ManonLe barbier en bas est très gentil.The barber downstairs is very kind.
- GabrielMerci, je vais y aller.Thanks, I will go there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “barber” translations and entries barbier, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
