Skip to content
EveryLingua All languagesDictionary
EN

B1  ·  30 words

Washing, shaving and the hairdresser in French

The bathroom shelf and the chair at the salon.

Practise this list

From these 30 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The list for a bathroom. Near the end of it is le pain de savon, and the two words spelt « pain » in these two languages have nothing whatever in common. French le pain is bread, from Latin panis. English « pain » is hurt, from Latin poena, a penalty — the same root as « penalty » and « punish ». A pain de savon is therefore a loaf of soap, named for its shape, the way French also has un pain de sucre and un pain de glace. English counts soap in bars and would never reach for a baking word. So the phrase is readable in English letters and unreadable as English: it looks like a complaint about washing and it names a shape.

The words

Verb (3)

sécherto dryVerbB1
Mes cheveux sèchent en dix minutes.My hair dries in ten minutes.

Conjugation of sécher →

teindreto dyeVerbB1
Elle s’est teint les cheveux en janvier.She dyed her hair in January.
se raserto shaveVerbB1
Il se rase un jour sur deux.He shaves every other day.

Phrase (2)

se brosser les dentsto brush one’s teethPhraseB1
Il se brosse les dents deux fois par jour.He brushes his teeth twice a day.
se couper les onglesto cut one’s nailsPhraseB1
Je me coupe les ongles le dimanche.I cut my nails on Sundays.

Noun (m) (12)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

le coiffeurthe hairdresserNoun (m)B1
Le coiffeur prend sans rendez-vous le mardi.The hairdresser takes walk-ins on Tuesdays.
le shampoingthe shampooNoun (m)B1
Le shampoing sent la pomme.The shampoo smells of apple.
le séchoirthe hairdryerNoun (m)B1
Le séchoir chauffe trop fort.The hairdryer gets far too hot.
le peignethe combNoun (m)B1
Le peigne est resté chez le coiffeur.The comb was left at the hairdresser’s.
le dentifricethe toothpasteNoun (m)B1
Le dentifrice est presque fini.The toothpaste is nearly finished.
le fil dentairethe dental flossNoun (m)B1
Le fil dentaire prend une minute.Dental floss takes a minute.
le rasoirthe razorNoun (m)B1
Le rasoir tire un peu.The razor pulls a little.
le pain de savonthe bar of soapNoun (m)B1
Un pain de savon dure plus longtemps que le gel.A bar of soap lasts longer than shower gel.
le gel douchethe shower gelNoun (m)B1
Le gel douche mousse à peine.The shower gel hardly lathers.
le parfumthe perfumeNoun (m)B1
Ce parfum tient toute la journée.This perfume lasts all day.
le déodorantthe deodorantNoun (m)B1
Le déodorant est resté dans la valise.The deodorant was left in the suitcase.
le maquillagethe make-upNoun (m)B1
Le maquillage part au premier lavage.The make-up comes off at the first wash.

Noun (f) (13)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

la coiffurethe hairstyleNoun (f)B1
Cette coiffure tient trois semaines.This hairstyle holds for three weeks.
la coupe de cheveuxthe haircutNoun (f)B1
La coupe de cheveux coûte vingt-deux euros.The haircut costs twenty-two euros.
les pointesthe ends of the hairNoun (f)B1
Juste les pointes, s’il vous plaît.Just the ends, please.
la frangethe fringeNoun (f)B1
La frange tombe dans les yeux.The fringe falls into her eyes.
la mèchethe strand of hairNoun (f)B1
Une mèche reste toujours de travers.One strand always sticks out at an angle.
la couleur naturellethe natural colourNoun (f)B1
La couleur naturelle revient au bout d’un an.The natural colour comes back after a year.
la brossethe brushNoun (f)B1
La brosse a perdu ses poils.The brush has lost its bristles.
la barbethe beardNoun (f)B1
La barbe pousse plus vite en été.A beard grows faster in the summer.
la crème hydratantethe moisturiserNoun (f)B1
La crème hydratante se met le matin.The moisturiser goes on in the morning.
la peau sèchethe dry skinNoun (f)B1
La peau sèche gratte en hiver.Dry skin itches in winter.
la crème solairethe sun creamNoun (f)B1
La crème solaire se remet toutes les deux heures.Sun cream has to go back on every two hours.
la serviette de bainthe bath towelNoun (f)B1
La serviette de bain sèche sur le radiateur.The bath towel is drying on the radiator.
l’esthéticiennethe beauticianNoun (f)B1
L’esthéticienne travaille sur rendez-vous.The beautician works by appointment only.

Back to the quiz ↑

Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary

This list belongs to Home, family and everyday life — 32 lists and 1 134 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Hear and recognise these words in the listening trainer