German · Friseur
The hairdresser asks how you want it cut: what to say in German
The hairdresser asks how to cut your hair.
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How it's done. Spitzen schneiden means trimming the tips; kürzer shorter; Fransen a fringe; Ansatz the roots.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Guten Tag! Was darf es heute sein?GOO-tayn tahk! Vahs dahrf es KHOY-teh zighn?
Good day! What will it be today?
They might also say:
Wie möchten Sie die Haare haben?
Vee MYOKH-tayn zee dee KHAH-reh KHAH-bayn?
How would you like your hair?
YOU REPLY
Nur die Spitzen schneiden, bitte.
Noor dee SHPEE-tsayn SHNIGH-dayn, BEE-teh.
Just trim the tips, please.
Or say:Etwas kürzer, bitte.
EH-tvuhs KYOOR-tsuh, BEE-teh.
THEY SAY
Wie viel soll ab? So?Vee feel zol ahp? Zoh?
How much should come off? Like this?
They might also say:
Soll ich es hier abschneiden?
Zol eekh es kheer AHPSH-nigh-dayn?
Shall I cut it here?
2
YOU REPLY
Ja, genau so.
Yah, geh-NOW zoh.
Yes, exactly like that.
Or say:Etwas weniger, bitte.
EH-tvuhs VEH-nee-guh, BEE-teh.
THEY SAY
Alles klar. Ich wasche Ihnen erst die Haare.AH-les klahr. Eekh VAH-sheh EE-nayn ehrst dee KHAH-reh.
All right. I'll wash your hair first.
3
YOU FINISH
Danke schön!
DAHN-keh shyohn!
Thank you!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
darf
dahrf
verb
may
heute
KHOY-teh
adverb
today
sein
zighn
verb
to be
Nur
Noor
adverb
only
22 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Können Sie mir das zeigen?
KYOH-nayn zee meer dahs TSIGH-gayn?
Can you show me?
Similar situations
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