salon de coiffure
/sa.lɔ̃ də kwa.fyʁ/
In French, the phrase for barber shop is salon de coiffure.
The term salon de coiffure is the general phrase used for a hair salon. In casual conversation, speakers often refer to the shop by simply using the word for the person who works there, which is coiffeur.
Which one should you use?
While salon de coiffure is the general term for a hair salon, a shop specifically for men's hair and beard grooming is often called a barbier.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the word salon is masculine, any adjective used to describe the shop must also be in the masculine form, such as un salon de coiffure moderne.
How do you pronounce it?
It consists of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- In France, the traditional barbier once performed medical tasks, such as pulling teeth and performing bloodletting, as part of the 'barber-surgeon' profession.
- The word salon shares a common ancestor with the Old English word 'sæl', meaning a 'hall' or 'castle'. This reflects the historical idea of a 'salon' as a large, grand room or gathering space.
- While we think of hair styling today, the verb coiffer originally meant 'to cover the head'. This is because the term once referred to the process of putting on hats or veils.
Examples in context
- Je cherche un salon de coiffure pour hommes pour une coupe classique.I am looking for a barber shop for a classic haircut.
- Bonjour, je suis à la recherche d'un salon de coiffure pour hommes. Auriez-vous des disponibilités aujourd'hui ?Hello, I'm looking for a barber shop. Do you have any availability today?
- Je cherche un bon salon de coiffure.I am looking for a good hair salon.
- Il y a un nouveau salon de coiffure ici.There is a new hair salon here.
- Le salon de coiffure est ouvert le samedi.The hair salon is open on Saturdays.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are walking through the city center.
- NathanEst-ce que tu connais un salon de coiffure ?Do you know a hair salon?
- ChloéOui, il y en a un juste là.Yes, there is one right there.
- NathanEst-ce qu'il est loin, Chloé ?Is it far, Chloé?
- ChloéNon, c'est à deux minutes d'ici.No, it is two minutes from here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salon de coiffure, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coiffure, de, salon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
