brosse à cheveux
/bʁɔs a ʃ(ə).vø/
The English phrase "hair brush" is brosse à cheveux in French.
The term brosse à cheveux refers to a brush used for grooming or smoothing the hair. In contexts where hair care is already the established topic of conversation, you may shorten the phrase to just brosse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of brosse (brush) and à cheveux (for hair), where à indicates the purpose or function of the object.
Which one should you use?
Use brosse à cheveux specifically for a brush with bristles, but use un peigne if you are referring to a comb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the term brosse à cheveux is used for "hair brush".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun brosse is feminine, so you must use the indefinite article une when referring to a single hair brush (e.g., une brosse à cheveux).
How do you pronounce it?
/bʁɔs a ʃ(ə).vø/
Did you know?
- The word brosse is likely linked to the word for 'heather', a wild shrub, because the term originally referred to 'brushwood' or thickets of plants.
- The word cheveux in brosse à cheveux is the plural form of 'hair', meaning you are technically brushing 'hairs' rather than a single mass.
- In French, the word brosse is used for many different types of brushes, from toothbrushes brosse à dents to scrub brushes brosse à récurer. This creates a wide family of tools all defined by the purpose indicated by the word à.
Examples in context
- Vous avez vu ma brosse à cheveux?Have you seen my hair brush?
- J'ai besoin d'une brosse à cheveux en France.I need a hair brush in France.
- Tu as vu ma brosse?Have you seen my brush?
- Où est ma brosse à cheveux ?Where is my hair brush?
- Elle a acheté une nouvelle brosse à cheveux.She bought a new hair brush.
- Cette brosse à cheveux est très douce.This hair brush is very soft.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are in the bathroom.
- ChloéHugo, est-ce que tu as vu ma brosse à cheveux ?Hugo, have you seen my hair brush?
- HugoJe crois qu'elle est sur la table.I think it is on the table.
- ChloéAh, la voilà, merci !Ah, there it is, thanks!
- HugoDe rien, Chloé.You're welcome, Chloé.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry brosse à cheveux, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brosse, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
