First Phrases

Hairdresser phrases · Português

Hairdresser phrases in Portuguese: 15 phrases

Book a cut, say how short you want it, show a photo, ask for a wash, trim the sides or the beard, say no to product, ask the price, pay by card and say thank you. Short, polite phrases for the hairdresser or barber in a new country. Pair them with Meet & Mint once you are settled.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Portugal, staff at a "cabeleireiro" or "barbeiro" often use "o senhor / a senhora" or the third person ("Quer lavar?"). Speaking in the third person and adding "por favor" is the polite default; younger barbers often use "tu" with each other. Phrases only: this card gives no advice. Prices and booking rules differ between salons, so ask the salon.

How to read the sounds: European Portuguese swallows unstressed vowels, so syllables sound shorter than they look. (n) = nasal vowel, don't sound the n. sh = the 'sh' of 'ship' for final s and x. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Queria marcar uma hora.
    Say it like: keh-REE-ah mar-KAR OO-mah OH-rah
    I'd like to book an appointment.
    Register: "Marcar uma hora" = to book a time (Portugal).
  2. 02Polite
    Tem disponibilidade para hoje?
    Say it like: tayn dish-poh-nee-bee-lee-DAH-deh PAH-rah OH-zheh
    Do you have time today?
    Register: Polite way to ask for a free slot today.
  3. 03Neutral
    Só aparar, por favor.
    Say it like: soh ah-pah-RAR, poor fah-VOR
    Just a trim, please.
    Register: "Aparar" = to trim.
  4. 04Neutral
    Um pouco mais curto dos lados.
    Say it like: oom POH-koo mysh KOOR-too dosh LAH-doosh
    A little shorter on the sides.
    Register: "Dos lados" = at the sides.
  5. 05Neutral
    Não muito curto, por favor.
    Say it like: nown MWEEN-too KOOR-too, poor fah-VOR
    Not too short, please.
    Register: Say it early.
  6. 06Neutral
    Como nesta foto.
    Say it like: KOH-moo NESH-tah FOH-too
    Like in this photo.
    Register: Show the photo.
  7. 07Polite
    Pode lavar também?
    Say it like: POH-deh lah-VAR tahm-BAYN
    Can you wash it too?
    Register: "Lavar" = to wash.
  8. 08Neutral
    Sem produtos, obrigado / obrigada.
    Say it like: sayn proh-DOO-toosh, oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah
    No product, thanks.
    Register: Men say obrigado, women say obrigada.
  9. 09Neutral
    Quanto custa?
    Say it like: KWAN-too KOOSH-tah
    How much is it?
    Register: Normal at the till.
  10. 10Neutral
    Posso pagar com cartão?
    Say it like: POH-soo pah-GAR kom kar-TOWN
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Ask before sitting down in small places.
  11. 11Neutral
    Está perfeito, obrigado / obrigada.
    Say it like: ish-TAH per-FAY-too, oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah
    That's perfect, thank you.
    Register: Said when you like the result.
  12. 12Neutral
    Mais um pouco em cima.
    Say it like: mysh oom POH-koo ayn SEE-mah
    A bit more off the top.
    Register: "Em cima" = on top.
  13. 13Neutral
    Quero manter o comprimento.
    Say it like: KEH-roo man-TER oo kom-pree-MEN-too
    I'd like to keep the length.
    Register: "Manter" = to keep.
  14. 14Polite
    Pode aparar a barba?
    Say it like: POH-deh ah-pah-RAR ah BAR-bah
    Can you tidy my beard?
    Register: Asks the barber to trim the beard.
  15. 15Neutral
    Até à próxima.
    Say it like: ah-TEH ah PROH-see-mah
    See you next time.
    Register: A friendly goodbye.

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Quick answers

How do you book a haircut in Portuguese?

Say: "Queria marcar uma hora." (I'd like to book an appointment.)

Should I use formal or informal Portuguese at the hairdresser or barber?

In Portugal, staff at a "cabeleireiro" or "barbeiro" often use "o senhor / a senhora" or the third person ("Quer lavar?"). Speaking in the third person and adding "por favor" is the polite default; younger barbers often use "tu" with each other. Phrases only: this card gives no advice. Prices and booking rules differ between salons, so ask the salon.

How do I ask for a shorter cut on the sides in Portuguese?

Say: "Um pouco mais curto dos lados." (A little shorter on the sides.)

How do I ask for my beard to be tidied in Portuguese?

Say: "Pode aparar a barba?" (Can you tidy my beard?)

Hairdresser phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Portuguese, another errand

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How it works

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  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you and meet people who are also new. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/hairdresser-phrases/pt/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint