alisarse el pelo
/alisaɾse el pelo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'straighten hair' is translated into Spanish as alisarse el pelo.
This phrase describes the act of making curly or wavy hair straight through the use of a tool or a chemical treatment. If you are referring to the specific chemical treatment or process itself, you can use the noun alisado. Related terms include plancha for a flat iron and crema alisadora for a straightening cream.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb alisar means 'to make smooth or straight' and is derived from the adjective liso, which means smooth or straight.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the verb alisar to express the idea of straightening hair. In Mexico, people often use the verb planchar to mean 'to straighten hair'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase alisarse el pelo uses the reflexive pronoun se (found within alisarse) to indicate that the person is performing the action on their own hair. You can substitute pelo with cabello to refer specifically to the hair on one's head, which is often considered more precise or slightly more formal.
How do you pronounce it?
/alisaɾse el pelo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase alisado brasileño refers to a specific high-intensity chemical treatment that became a global trend despite its name.
- The word pelo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pile', specifically referring to the fine, short hair found on animals.
- The root of the verb alisar is the adjective liso, which is used to describe any smooth surface, from a piece of silk to a polished floor.
Examples in context
- Voy a planchar mi cabelloI'm going to straighten my hair
- Me gusta alisarme el peloI like to straighten my hair
- Me voy a alisar el cabello con mi plancha nuevaI'm going to straighten my hair with my new flat iron
- Primero, uso calor para alisar mi cabelloFirst, I use heat to straighten my hair
- ¿Qué me recomiendas para alisar el pelo?What do you recommend for straightening hair?
- ¿Conoces alguna crema alisadora efectiva?Do you know any effective straightening cream?
- Ella prefiere alisarse el pelo en la peluquería.She prefers to straighten her hair at the hair salon.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new look.
- MaríaMateo, voy a alisarse el pelo mañana.Mateo, I am going to straighten my hair tomorrow.
- Mateo¡Qué bien! ¿Vas a ir a la peluquería?That's great! Are you going to the salon?
- MaríaSí, prefiero alisarse el pelo con profesionales.Yes, I prefer to straighten my hair with professionals.
- MateoSeguro que te verás muy bien, María.I'm sure you will look great, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
