lisseur
/li.sœʁ/
The English phrase hair straightener is translated into French as lisseur.
A hair straightener is an electrical appliance used to make curly or wavy hair straight. To express the action of using a straightener on hair, use the verb phrase lisser les cheveux.
What does it mean word for word?
The word lisseur comes from the verb lisser, which means to smooth or make even.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter fer à lisser, which literally means 'iron for smoothing'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the term Fer plat is used to refer to a hair straightener.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, so you use the articles un or le.
How do you pronounce it?
/li.sœʁ/
Did you know?
- The verb lisser is used by French chefs to describe the process of making a sauce or soup smooth and velvety.
- The term fer plat used in Quebec is a direct calque of the English 'flat iron'. This highlights a regional linguistic divergence where Canadian French adopts English structural patterns that are avoided in France.
- The word lissage is an umbrella term that describes both the physical act of using a lisseur and semi-permanent chemical treatments like lissage brésilien.
Examples in context
- Je viens d'acheter un nouvel appareil de lissage des cheveux. Il fonctionne à merveille!I just bought a new hair straightening device. It works wonders!
- Je ne peux pas sortir sans mon lisseur. Il me donne des cheveux magnifiques!I can't go out without my hair straightener. It gives me gorgeous hair!
- J'utilise mon fer à lisser tous les matins pour avoir des cheveux lisses et soyeuxI use my hair straightener every morning to have smooth and silky hair.
- Elle a acheté un lisseur de cheveux très performant qui lui permet d'obtenir des résultats professionnels chez elleShe bought a highly efficient hair straightener that allows her to achieve professional results at home.
- J'ai oublié mon lisseur à la maison.I forgot my hair straightener at home.
- Ce lisseur est très efficace.This hair straightener is very effective.
- Où est mon lisseur ?Where is my hair straightener?
Example conversation
Léa is getting ready in the bathroom and cannot find her tool.
- LéaLucas, est-ce que tu as vu mon lisseur ?Lucas, have you seen my hair straightener?
- LucasNon, je ne l'ai pas vu.No, I haven't seen it.
- LéaC'est étrange, il était sur la table.That's strange, it was on the table.
- LucasRegarde peut-être dans ton sac.Maybe look in your bag.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lisseur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
