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Lesson 136 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 136 of 238

A haircut in Spanish

Justin has found a neighborhood barber, but he needs to explain exactly what he wants today.

You'll ask for a haircut, describe a small trim, request it shorter, ask the price, and say you like the result.

The barber uses usted, so listen for the polite form corta.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for a haircut, describe how you want it, ask the price, and say you like it.

  • ¿Me corta el pelo?Can you cut my hair?
  • Solo las puntasJust the ends
  • Un poco más cortoA little shorter
  • ¿Cuánto va a ser?How much will it be?
  • Me gusta asíI like it like this

Scene — the neighborhood chair

A small neighborhood barber chair near Café Laurel. Justin has grown-out hair and sits down while the barber prepares the scissors.

The barber is ready to cut, but Justin wants only the ends at first. A mirror will settle the final decision.

A neighborhood barber chair stands beside Café Laurel as Justin sits with grown-out hair while a barber prepares scissors and a hand mirror.

Learn — haircut requests

These five chunks help you manage a haircut from the first request to the final mirror check.

Learn each one as a useful piece, not as a word-for-word puzzle.

  1. Justin raises one hand and points toward his hair while asking the barber to cut it.

    ¿Me corta el pelo?

    Can you cut my hair?

    When to use it: Use this polite question when asking a barber to cut your hair.

    Corta uses usted, the polite form for the person serving you.

    Say it: MEH KOR-tah el PEH-loh

  2. Justin pinches the very tips of a lock of hair to show that he wants only the ends trimmed.

    Solo las puntas

    Just the ends

    When to use it: Say this when you want the barber to trim only the ends.

    Puntas means ends, especially the ends of your hair.

  3. Justin studies his reflection in a hand mirror and gestures with two fingers to request a little more length removed.

    Un poco más corto

    A little shorter

    When to use it: Say this when you want the barber to cut a little more.

    Más corto means shorter; use it to request a small change.

  4. Justin extends one open palm toward the barber and asks about the price of the haircut.

    ¿Cuánto va a ser?

    How much will it be?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know the final price.

    Va a ser means it will be, a common way to ask the price.

  5. Justin smiles at his reflection and lightly touches the finished ends of his hair to show that he likes the result.

    Me gusta así

    I like it like this

    When to use it: Say this when you like the length or style you see.

    Así means like this, pointing to the current result.

Story — a careful trim

Justin explains his haircut request politely, checks the length, and asks about the price.

The highlighted chunks are today's lines. Turn on Show English if you need help.

  1. The barber points to the chair and holds up a comb.
  2. Barber¿Qué le gustaría?What would you like?
  3. Justin¿Me corta el pelo?Can you cut my hair?
  4. BarberClaro. ¿Cómo lo quiere?Of course. How would you like it?
  5. JustinSolo las puntas, por favor.Just the ends, please.
  6. The barber trims the ends, then turns the chair toward the mirror.
  7. Barber¿Así está bien?Is it okay like this?
  8. JustinUn poco más corto, por favor.A little shorter, please.
  9. Barber¿Así está bien ahora?Is it okay like this now?
  10. JustinMe gusta así.I like it like this.
  11. Justin¿Cuánto va a ser? ¿Cuánto cuesta el corte?How much will it be? How much does the haircut cost?
  12. BarberSon ciento veinte pesos.It's one hundred twenty pesos.
  13. JustinGracias.Thanks.

Practice — at the barber

You'll hear, match, complete, choose, and build the haircut conversation.

Pay attention to who is asking and whether Justin wants more cutting or wants to stop.

0 of 8 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Solo las puntasDrop the English here
    Un poco más cortoDrop the English here
    ¿Cuánto cuesta ___?Drop the English here
    Así está bienDrop the English here

    English

  3. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    A little shorter

    Un poco más ____

  4. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    The barber asks how you want your hair. You only want a trim at the ends.

  5. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    The barber turns you to the mirror. The haircut is done and you like it. Answer him.

  6. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Gracias

  7. True or false?

    True or false?

    This line asks about the haircut's price.

  8. Build the line

    Build the line

    How much will it be?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — choose your words

Now you're Justin in the barber chair. Follow the exchange and say the haircut chunks when the barber needs your answer.

Tap ▶ to hear the model line first, then tap the microphone. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Barber¿Qué le gustaría?What would you like?
  2. Justin (you)Ask whether he can cut your hair.

    Ask whether he can cut your hair.

    ¿Me corta el pelo?

    Can you cut my hair?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
SpanishEnglishPlay
¿Me corta el pelo?Can you cut my hair?
Solo las puntasJust the ends
Un poco más cortoA little shorter
¿Cuánto va a ser?How much will it be?
Me gusta asíI like it like this
Next: lesson 137Sending a package

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these haircut chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

Review the cards before your next appointment so you can explain the length clearly.

Open Yak Cards