First Phrases

Hairdresser phrases · Svenska

Hairdresser phrases in Swedish: 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.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Informal (friendly). In Sweden everyone says "du", also with a hairdresser ("frisör") or barber; there is no formal "you" to worry about. "Tack" and "hej" do the work of politeness, and "snälla" is optional. Phrases only: this card gives no advice. Prices and booking rules differ between salons, so ask the salon.

How to read the sounds: Swedish stress is in CAPITALS. a = 'ah', å = the o of 'more', ä = the e of 'bed' (or 'air' before r), ö = the u of 'fur', y = say 'ee' with rounded lips (written ew). sj and tj are soft hushing sounds; k before e, i, y, ä, ö sounds like English 'ch'. Double consonants make the vowel before them short.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Jag skulle vilja boka en tid.
    Say it like: yah SKUL-leh VIL-ya BOO-ka en teed
    I'd like to book an appointment.
    Register: "Boka en tid" = to book a time.
  2. 02Informal
    Har du tid idag?
    Say it like: hahr dew teed ee-DAHG
    Do you have time today?
    Register: Asks for a free slot today.
  3. 03Informalcheck
    Bara putsa till lite, tack.
    Say it like: BAH-ra POOT-sa til LEE-teh, tack
    Just a trim, please.
    Register: "Putsa till" = to tidy up.
  4. 04Informal
    Lite kortare på sidorna.
    Say it like: LEE-teh KORT-a-reh paw SEE-doo-rna
    A little shorter on the sides.
    Register: "Sidorna" = the sides.
  5. 05Informal
    Inte för kort, tack.
    Say it like: IN-teh fur kort, tack
    Not too short, please.
    Register: Say it early.
  6. 06Informal
    Som på det här fotot.
    Say it like: som paw deh hehr FOO-tot
    Like in this photo.
    Register: Show the photo.
  7. 07Informal
    Kan du tvätta håret också?
    Say it like: kan dew TVET-ta HAW-ret OK-saw
    Can you wash it too?
    Register: "Tvätta" = to wash.
  8. 08Informal
    Ingen produkt, tack.
    Say it like: IN-gen proo-DUKT, tack
    No product, thanks.
    Register: Said when they offer styling products.
  9. 09Informal
    Hur mycket kostar det?
    Say it like: hewr MEWK-eh KOS-tar deh
    How much is it?
    Register: Normal at the till.
  10. 10Informal
    Kan jag betala med kort?
    Say it like: kan yah beh-TAH-la meh kort
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Cards are widely used in Sweden.
  11. 11Informal
    Det blev perfekt, tack.
    Say it like: deh bleyv per-FEKT, tack
    That's perfect, thank you.
    Register: Said when you like the result.
  12. 12Informalcheck
    Lite mer av på toppen.
    Say it like: LEE-teh mehr ahv paw TOP-pen
    A bit more off the top.
    Register: "På toppen" = on top.
  13. 13Informal
    Jag vill behålla längden.
    Say it like: yah vil beh-HOL-la LENG-den
    I'd like to keep the length.
    Register: "Behålla" = to keep.
  14. 14Informal
    Kan du trimma skägget?
    Say it like: kan dew TRIM-ma SHEG-et
    Can you tidy my beard?
    Register: "Trimma" = to trim; "skägget" = the beard.
  15. 15Informal
    Vi ses nästa gång.
    Say it like: vee sess NES-ta gong
    See you next time.
    Register: A friendly goodbye, 'see you next time'.

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Quick answers

How do you book a haircut in Swedish?

Say: "Jag skulle vilja boka en tid." (I'd like to book an appointment.)

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

In Sweden everyone says "du", also with a hairdresser ("frisör") or barber; there is no formal "you" to worry about. "Tack" and "hej" do the work of politeness, and "snälla" is optional. 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 Swedish?

Say: "Lite kortare på sidorna." (A little shorter on the sides.)

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

Say: "Kan du trimma skägget?" (Can you tidy my beard?)

Hairdresser phrases in another language

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