How to Ask for a Haircut in French: 'Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît'
Learn elementary French for the hair salon: request a haircut politely, ask about appointments, and understand the stylist's basic questions.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Going to a French-speaking salon is easier when you can state what you want in one clear, polite sentence. The key phrase is 'Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît' — literally 'I would like a cut, please.' In this lesson you will learn to ask for a haircut, say whether you have an appointment, ask for one, and understand the stylist's first questions. All phrases use standard contemporary French; where usage differs in Canada or Belgium, this is labelled.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a haircut politely in French
- say whether I have an appointment or ask to make one
- understand and answer a stylist's basic questions about length and timing
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour, je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I'd like a haircut, please.
bon-ZHOOR, zhuh voo-DREH ewn koop, seel voo PLEH
The standard polite request when you walk in. 'Je voudrais' is softer than 'je veux' ('I want'), which can sound blunt.
J'ai rendez-vous à quinze heures.
I have an appointment at 3 p.m.
zhay rahn-day-VOO ah kanz URR
Use 'j'ai rendez-vous' for an existing appointment. French often uses the 24-hour clock: 'quinze heures' = 3 p.m. In Canada, 'j'ai un rendez-vous' is also common.
Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous.
I'd like to make an appointment.
zhuh voo-DREH PRAHN-druh rahn-day-VOO
Use this when you have no appointment and want to book one. 'Prendre rendez-vous' is the standard expression.
Vous avez de la disponibilité demain ?
Do you have any availability tomorrow?
voo za-VAY duh lah dees-po-nee-bee-lee-TAY duh-MAN
A polite way to ask about free slots. You can replace 'demain' with 'cet après-midi' (this afternoon) or 'samedi' (Saturday).
Pas trop court, s'il vous plaît.
Not too short, please.
pah tro KOOR, seel voo PLEH
Useful when the stylist asks how much to cut. 'Court' (short) changes to 'courte' for feminine nouns, e.g. 'une coupe courte'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 'Je voudrais + noun, s'il vous plaît' lets you request almost any service politely: 'Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît' (a haircut), 'Je voudrais un shampoing, s'il vous plaît' (a shampoo), 'Je voudrais un rendez-vous, s'il vous plaît' (an appointment). 'Je voudrais' is the conditional of 'vouloir' and works for both men and women; it does not change form. To be even more formal, say 'J'aimerais' (I would like).
When to use it
Use 'Je voudrais une coupe' at the start of the visit, before any discussion of style. If you already booked, say 'J'ai rendez-vous' and give the time. If you are booking, say 'Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous.' When the stylist asks 'Qu'est-ce qu'on fait ?' (What are we doing?) or 'Comment est-ce qu'on coupe ?' (How shall we cut it?), answer with a short phrase such as 'Pas trop court' or 'Juste les pointes' (just the ends).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I'd like a haircut, please.bon-ZHOOR, zhuh voo-DREH ewn koop, seel voo PLEHBonjour. Vous avez rendez-vous ?
Hello. Do you have an appointment?bon-ZHOOR. voo za-VAY rahn-day-VOONon, je voudrais prendre rendez-vous. Vous avez de la disponibilité cet après-midi ?
No, I'd like to make an appointment. Do you have any availability this afternoon?nohn, zhuh voo-DREH PRAHN-druh rahn-day-VOO. voo za-VAY duh lah dees-po-nee-bee-lee-TAY set ah-preh-mee-DEEOui, à seize heures. Comment est-ce qu'on coupe ?
Yes, at 4 p.m. How shall we cut it?wee, ah sez URR. ko-MAHN es kohn KOOPA little context goes a long way
In France, 'Bonjour' before any request is expected, even in a busy salon; starting with 'Je voudrais' without a greeting can seem abrupt. In Quebec and other French-speaking regions, service interactions are often slightly more informal, but 'bonjour' and 's'il vous plaît' remain safe everywhere. Tipping is not obligatory in French salons, though rounding up or leaving a small amount is appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je veux une coupe' because it matches the direct English 'I want a haircut.'
Try this instead: 'Je veux' can sound demanding in a service setting. Use the conditional 'Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît' or 'J'aimerais une coupe, s'il vous plaît.' Both are polite and standard.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely say 'I'd like a haircut, please'?
Show a sample answer
Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît.
'Je voudrais' is the polite conditional form; 'une coupe' means a haircut, and 's'il vous plaît' adds courtesy. 'J'aimerais une coupe, s'il vous plaît' is also correct.
2You have an appointment at 2 p.m. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
J'ai rendez-vous à quatorze heures.
'J'ai rendez-vous' states you have an appointment; 'à quatorze heures' is 2 p.m. in the 24-hour clock. 'J'ai rendez-vous à deux heures' is also used informally.
3The stylist asks 'Comment est-ce qu'on coupe ?' and you want just a trim. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Juste les pointes, s'il vous plaît.
'Juste les pointes' means 'just the ends,' a common way to request a trim. 'Pas trop court, s'il vous plaît' also works if you mainly want to avoid losing length.
Remember one core sentence — 'Je voudrais une coupe, s'il vous plaît' — and add 'J'ai rendez-vous' or 'Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous' depending on whether you booked. Keep answers short and polite.
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