What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb cortar (to cut) and the noun phrase el pelo (the hair).
Which one should you use?
While cortar el pelo is standard, you can use cortar el cabello to be more precise or formal, as cabello is a more formal synonym for human hair. For a very formal context, one might use the phrase realizar un corte de cabello. If you only intend to trim the ends of the hair, the informal expression sacarse las puntas can be used, which literally translates to 'cutting the tips'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use recortar el pelo when referring to a minor trimming or tidying up of the hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are the person receiving the haircut rather than the one performing the action, you should use the reflexive form cortarse el pelo to mean 'to get one's hair cut'. Additionally, when referring to body parts in Spanish, use the definite article el instead of a possessive adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/koɾtaɾ el pelo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use possessive adjectives like mi (my) when talking about body parts. Instead of saying cortar mi pelo, you should use the definite article el, saying cortar el pelo.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the barbero who performed cortar el pelo traditionally acted as a community medic, providing bloodletting and tooth extractions.
- While pelo is the common word for hair, it is also used in the idiom por un pelo to mean 'by a whisker' or 'by a hair's breadth. It describes a situation where something almost happened.
- The Spanish verb cortar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'curtail'. Both come from the Latin curtāre, which means 'shorten'.
Examples in context
- Hoy iré a cortarme el cabello en el salón de belleza.Today I am going to get a haircut at the beauty salon.
- ¿Te has cortado el pelo tú misma? ¡Te quedó genial!Did you cut your own hair? It looks great!
- Quiero cortarme el pelo.I want to get my hair cut.
- Necesito cortar el pelo.I need to cut my hair.
- ¿Me vas a cortar el pelo hoy?Are you going to cut my hair today?
- Él va a cortar el pelo de su hijo.He is going to cut his son's hair.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about their appearance.
- SofíaMateo, tienes que cortar el pelo.Mateo, you need to cut your hair.
- MateoTienes razón, ya está muy largo.You are right, it is already very long.
- SofíaPuedo ayudarte a cortar el pelo en casa.I can help you cut your hair at home.
- MateoNo, mejor voy a una peluquería.No, it is better if I go to a hair salon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cortar, el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
