Hindi · Body & Health

"Hair" in Hindi: बाल

बालbaal

Say it: baalmasculine noun/bɑːl/

Hair in Hindi is बाल (baal), and it is masculine. You usually say baal in the plural sense even for one person's hair: mere baal lambe hain (my hair is long). At a salon, baal kaatna means to cut hair.

At a salon

कृपया मेरे बाल थोड़े छोटे कर दीजिए।

kripya mere baal thode chhote kar dijiye.

Please cut my hair a little shorter.
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How to pronounce बाल

Say it

baal

/bɑːl/

Baal is baal with a long aa. The b is plain and the l is clear at the end. Do not shorten the aa into an English "uh" sound.

"Hair" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
बालbaalhair

The standard word for hair on the head.

बाल काटनाbaal kaatnato cut hair

What you ask for at a barber or salon.

लंबे बालlambe baallong hair

Describing length; baal takes plural adjective forms.

सफ़ेद बालsafed baalwhite / grey hair

Age or stress, often said with a smile.

बालों का तेलbaalon ka telhair oil

Common in home care; baalon is the oblique plural form.

How to use बाल in real life

  1. 1At a salon

    कृपया मेरे बाल थोड़े छोटे कर दीजिए।

    kripya mere baal thode chhote kar dijiye.

    Please cut my hair a little shorter.

    Thode chhote kar dijiye is a polite trim request.

  2. 2Complimenting someone

    आपके बाल बहुत सुंदर लग रहे हैं।

    aapke baal bahut sundar lag rahe hain.

    Your hair looks very beautiful.

    Baals often take plural verb forms: lag rahe hain.

  3. 3After swimming

    नहाने के बाद बाल सुखा लीजिए, ठंड लग सकती है।

    nahaane ke baad baal sukha lijiye, thand lag sakti hai.

    Dry your hair after bathing, you might catch a chill.

    Practical advice you hear from hosts or elders.

Mistakes English speakers make with बाल

Incorrect: Meri baal lambe hain.

Correct: Mere baal lambe hain.

Baal is masculine, so use mere baal even though hair feels plural in English.

Incorrect: Baal kaatna = to shave head only

Correct: Baal kaatna = to cut hair (any trim)

For a full shave say mundwaana or sar mundwaana.

Good to know

Oiling hair with coconut or mustard oil is still common in many homes, especially before washing. Salons range from roadside barbers to fancy parlours, and both understand baal kaatna. Complimenting baal is a safe, friendly gesture.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Getting a haircut in Pune

  1. ChatPal

    नमस्ते! बाल कैसे काटने हैं?

    namaste! baal kaise kaatne hain?

    Hello! How would you like your hair cut?

  2. You

    बाल थोड़े छोटे कर दीजिए, बस इतना।

    baal thode chhote kar dijiye, bas itna.

    Cut the hair a little shorter, just this much.

  3. ChatPal

    ठीक है, पहले बाल धो लेते हैं।

    theek hai, pehle baal dho lete hain.

    Fine, let's wash the hair first.

  4. You

    हाँ, और पीछे के बाल भी साफ़ कर दीजिए।

    haan, aur peeche ke baal bhi saaf kar dijiye.

    Yes, and clean up the hair at the back too.

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"Hair" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Hair" in Hindi

Is baal singular or plural?

Grammatically masculine singular, but it usually refers to all the hair on your head, so verbs often look plural: mere baal lambe hain.

How do I ask for a haircut?

Say baal kaatne hain or mera baal kaat dijiye at a salon. Point with your fingers to show length.

What is hair oil called?

Say baalon ka tel or simply tel for hair oil. Coconut oil is nariyal tel.

How do I describe curly hair?

Say ghungrale baal or simply curly baal; many people mix English hair words in cities.

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