cheveux ondulés
The English phrase wavy hair is translated into French as cheveux ondulés.
This phrase is used to describe hair that has a series of gentle curves rather than being straight or curly. When describing your own hair in French, it is idiomatic to use the construction avoir les cheveux… (to have the hair…) instead of simply saying avoir… (to have…).
What does it mean word for word?
The term cheveux means hair and ondulés is the past participle of the verb onduler, which means to wave or to undulate.
Which one should you use?
While cheveux ondulés refers to hair with gentle waves, you should use cheveux bouclés to describe hair with tighter, more defined curls. If the hair lacks any wave or curl, use cheveux lisses to describe straight hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because cheveux is a masculine plural noun, the adjective ondulé must take the masculine plural ending -és to become ondulés.
Did you know?
- The term cheveux bouclés for curly hair comes from boucle, which also means a 'loop' or a 'buckle' on a belt.
- The word cheveux comes from the Latin capillus, which originally referred to a single hair or a fine thread.
- In French, the verb onduler is used for many things that move in waves, such as a snake crawling or heat shimmering on a road.
Examples in context
- J'ai les cheveux ondulés.I have wavy hair.This sentence shows how to state that you have wavy hair using the cheveux ondulés form.Tatoeba #10745475 by Nyans, translation #5852660 by CK
- Shona a les cheveux ondulés.Shona has wavy hair.This sentence demonstrates how to describe someone else having wavy hair using the cheveux ondulés form.Tatoeba #3692637 by Elliv, translation #3121921 by CN
- Vous avez de beaux cheveux ondulésYou have beautiful wavy hair
- Elle a les cheveux légèrement bouclésShe has slightly wavy hair
- Les cheveux avec des ondulations sont magnifiquesHair with waves is gorgeous
- Tu as des cheveux un peu bouclés aujourd'huiYour hair is a bit curly today
- J'aimerais avoir des cheveux ondulésI would love to have wavy hair
- Ma sœur a les cheveux un peu bouclés après une journée à la plageMy sister has slightly curly hair after a day at the beach
- Elle a de beaux cheveux ondulés.She has beautiful wavy hair.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are discussing their appearance at a salon.
- HugoEst-ce que tu as les cheveux ondulés, Léa ?Do you have wavy hair, Léa?
- LéaNon, j'ai les cheveux raides.No, I have straight hair.
- HugoMoi, je préfère les cheveux ondulés.Me, I prefer wavy hair.
- LéaC'est vrai, c'est très joli.That's true, it's very pretty.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
