dégradé bas
In French, the English phrase "low fade" is translated as dégradé bas.
This phrase refers to a haircut where the hair is tapered very short starting low on the head, near the ears and neckline. When you are at a barbershop ordering this specific haircut, you would typically use the masculine indefinite article un dégradé bas.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a literal translation where dégradé means fade or gradient and bas means low.
Which one should you use?
If you wish to specify an even lower taper, you can use dégradé très bas, which means "very low fade". Adding très (very) before bas is the standard way to indicate this.
Did you know?
- If you want your 'low fade' to go all the way down to the skin, you can ask your barber for a cut à blanc, which literally translates to 'to white'.
- Despite having the term dégradé bas, many young people in urban French barbershops bypass the translation and use the English phrase 'low fade'.
- In French, the word bas is used as a noun to refer to stockings, as it is a shortened version of the historical term bas-de-chausses.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais une coupe dégradée basse, s'il vous plaît.I would like a low fade, please.
- Je veux une coupe dégradée basse, mec.I want a low fade, man.
- T'aurais pas un dégradé bas par ici, s'il te plaît?Do you have a low fade around here, please?
- Il a un dégradé bas très propre.He has a very clean low fade.
Example conversation
Hugo is at the barber shop with Lea.
- HugoJe pense que je vais demander un dégradé bas.I think I'll ask for a low fade.
- LéaC'est une bonne idée, Hugo.That's a good idea, Hugo.
- HugoEst-ce que tu aimes ce style ?Do you like this style?
- LéaOui, le dégradé bas est très moderne.Yes, the low fade is very modern.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
