coiffeur
/kwa.fœʁ/masculine
The English word hairdresser is translated into French as coiffeur. Wiktionary also lists coiffeuse and friseur.
Meaning: professional for haircutting or hairstyling (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| coiffeur | /kwa.fœʁ/ | masculine |
| coiffeuse | /kwa.føz/ | feminine |
| friseur | /fʁi.zœʁ/ | masculine |
A hairdresser is a professional for haircutting or hairstyling. When you want to say you are going 'to the hairdresser's', French speakers use the preposition chez (chez le coiffeur) rather than à.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the gender of the professional. coiffeur is the masculine form and coiffeuse is the feminine form. The term friseur is also a masculine noun used for a hairdresser.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of coiffeur is coiffeuse.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /kwa.fœʁ/.
Did you know?
- In France, the 'salon de coiffure' is often a social hub where the coiffeur acts as a neighborhood confidant, and it is culturally common to spend significant time chatting about local news.
- The word coiffer can be used in a metaphorical sense to describe 'topping off' something or placing a lid on a container, not just styling hair.
- The word coiffeuse can also refer to a woman who makes or sells traditional lace caps, a specialized craft distinct from modern hairstyling.
Examples in context
- Ziri est devenu coiffeur.Ziri became a hairdresser.This sentence uses coiffeur to show someone's profession.Tatoeba #11764059 by Amastan, translation #10209445 by Amastan
- Tom est le coiffeur de Jean.Tom is John's hairdresser.This sentence uses coiffeur to show a person's professional relationship to another.Tatoeba #10727168 by Rovo, translation #11573979 by shekitten
- Y a-t-il un coiffeur dans l'hôtel ?Is there a hairdresser in the hotel?This sentence uses coiffeur to ask about the presence of a professional in a location.Tatoeba #428854 by slegros, translation #33366 by CM
- Je suis chez le coiffeurI am at the hairdresser
- Je vais chez le coiffeur pour hommesI am going to the men's hairdresser
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are walking through the city.
- LéaOn cherche un coiffeur pour toi ?Are we looking for a hairdresser for you?
- NathanOui, j'ai vraiment besoin d'une coupe.Yes, I really need a haircut.
- LéaLe coiffeur est juste au coin de la rue.The hairdresser is just around the corner.
- NathanParfait, allons-y alors.Perfect, let's go then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hairdresser” translations and entries coiffeur, coiffeuse, friseur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
