cheveux lisses
The English phrase "straight hair" is translated into French as cheveux lisses.
Use this phrase to describe hair that does not have curls or waves.
Which one should you use?
While cheveux lisses is the standard way to describe hair without curls, you may also encounter cheveux raides.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective lisses must agree in gender and number with the masculine plural noun cheveux.
Did you know?
- The French verb for straightening hair, lisser, is the same word used for ironing clothes or smoothing out a wrinkled fabric.
- While lisse is generally positive, the term raide can describe a person's social behavior, meaning they are 'stiff' or overly formal.
- The French word lisse is a linguistic relative of the English word 'sleek', as both emphasize a reflective and smooth quality.
Examples in context
- Elle a les cheveux raidesShe has straight hair
- Il a les cheveux droitsHe has straight hair
- J'ai les cheveux lissesI have straight hair
- Je suis français(e) avec les cheveux lissesI am French with straight hair
- Elle a les cheveux raides et blondsShe has straight blonde hair
- Elle a les cheveux lisses.She has straight hair.
- Je préfère les cheveux lisses aux boucles.I prefer straight hair to curls.
- Ses cheveux lisses sont très brillants.Her straight hair is very shiny.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about hair care at a salon.
- ManonEst-ce que tu veux garder tes cheveux lisses ?Do you want to keep your hair straight?
- NathanOui, je préfère avoir les cheveux lisses.Yes, I prefer having straight hair.
- ManonC'est vrai, tes cheveux lisses sont magnifiques.It's true, your straight hair is beautiful.
- NathanMerci, Manon, c'est très gentil.Thank you, Manon, that's very kind.
