THE QUICK ANSWER
To ask for a haircut in Polish, say Poproszę strzyżenie (A haircut, please). For just a trim of the ends, say Proszę tylko podciąć końcówki. Make the amount clear with Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry (Please take two centimetres off my hair).
WORDS YOU CAN USE TODAY
10 useful phrases
Listen to the Polish, then try it aloud. Audio uses a synthetic Polish voice; no voice installation is needed.
Poproszę strzyżenie.
A haircut, please.
Strzyżenie is the haircutting service. Poproszę makes a polite request without changing for the speaker’s gender.
Proszę tylko podciąć końcówki.
Please just trim the ends.
Tylko means only, and końcówki means the ends of your hair here. This asks for a trim rather than a new style.
Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry.
Please take two centimetres off my hair.
O dwa centymetry gives the amount to remove. It does not ask for the finished hair to be two centimetres long.
Nie za krótko, proszę.
Not too short, please.
A useful extra limit, but it is subjective. Add an amount or show the length you mean before cutting starts.
Krótko z boków, trochę dłużej na górze.
Short on the sides, a little longer on top.
A different haircut choice from trimming only the ends. Z boków refers to the sides; na górze refers to the top.
Nożyczkami, proszę.
With scissors, please.
Nożyczki means scissors. Nożyczkami is the form used for the tool you want the hairdresser to use.
Maszynką, proszę.
With clippers, please.
At the hairdresser’s, maszynka can mean hair clippers. Maszynką answers the question about which tool to use.
Ile skrócić?
How much should I take off?
A short question you may hear from the hairdresser. Reply with the amount to remove, such as O dwa centymetry, proszę.
Czy mycie jest w cenie?
Is washing included in the price?
Mycie refers to washing your hair in this setting. Ask before agreeing to an extra service.
Tak jest dobrze, dziękuję.
It is fine like this, thank you.
Use this if the length or finished result is what you want. Tak here means like this.
Practise conversations aloud with feedback in Movoza.
Choose a haircut or just a trim
Start with Dzień dobry and Poproszę strzyżenie. The word strzyżenie names the service; it does not tell the hairdresser which style to cut. Add Proszę tylko podciąć końcówki if you want only the ends trimmed. Podciąć means to trim in this context, and tylko keeps the request focused on that small change.
For a different style, Krótko z boków, trochę dłużej na górze describes short sides with a longer top. It is an alternative to the trim in this guide’s dialogue. Choose the description that matches your goal instead of combining both automatically. You can also show a reference photo and point to the part you mean.
Say how much to remove
The question Ile skrócić? asks how much to shorten the hair. Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry asks for two centimetres to be removed. The small word o matters: o dwa centymetry gives the amount of the change. Do dwóch centymetrów would describe shortening the hair to a final length of two centimetres.
Nie za krótko, proszę adds a limit, but too short can mean different things to different people. Pair it with an amount and check the length together before cutting starts. In the fictional exchange, the customer specifies two centimetres off and keeps the request consistent throughout.
Recognise the tools and check the service
The hairdresser may ask Nożyczkami czy maszynką? (With scissors or clippers?). Reply Nożyczkami, proszę or Maszynką, proszę according to your preference. Both are natural Polish answers. The endings in nożyczkami and maszynką show the tool being used; you can learn each as a complete short reply.
If washing is suggested, ask Czy mycie jest w cenie? The reply Tak, jest w cenie means Yes, it is included in the price. That answer belongs to the fictional salon below; real services and prices vary. At the end, Tak jest dobrze, dziękuję confirms that you are happy with the result. If you miss a question, use Proszę powtórzyć (Please repeat that) before answering.
PUT IT TOGETHER
A short conversation
Read both parts. Then cover the English and try your reply aloud.
- Hairdresser
Dzień dobry. W czym mogę pomóc?
Hello. How can I help?
- You
Dzień dobry. Poproszę strzyżenie. Proszę tylko podciąć końcówki.
Hello. A haircut, please. Please just trim the ends.
- Hairdresser
Ile skrócić?
How much should I take off?
- You
Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry. Nie za krótko, proszę.
Please take two centimetres off my hair. Not too short, please.
- Hairdresser
Nożyczkami czy maszynką?
With scissors or clippers?
- You
Nożyczkami, proszę.
With scissors, please.
- Hairdresser
Dobrze. Zaczniemy od mycia.
All right. We will start with washing.
- You
Czy mycie jest w cenie?
Is washing included in the price?
- Hairdresser
Tak, jest w cenie.
Yes, it is included in the price.
- You
Dobrze, dziękuję.
All right, thank you.
- Hairdresser
Gotowe. Czy taka długość jest w porządku?
Done. Is this length all right?
- You
Tak jest dobrze, dziękuję. Do widzenia.
It is fine like this, thank you. Goodbye.
- Hairdresser
Do widzenia.
Goodbye.
YOUR TURN
One small speaking challenge.
Practise the fictional customer’s goal: only the ends, two centimetres off, using scissors. Say the request aloud, then answer Ile skrócić? and Nożyczkami czy maszynką? Keep the same choices throughout. Afterwards, change one choice and practise the matching reply.
In the fictional exchange, you want two centimetres taken off your hair. Which request gives the amount to remove?
Show the answer
Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry. O dwa centymetry means by two centimetres: that amount is removed. Do dwóch centymetrów gives a final length of two centimetres. Nożyczkami, proszę chooses scissors without saying how much to remove.
Now say Proszę skrócić włosy o dwa centymetry. aloud.
