Italian · Body & Health
"Hair" in Italian: capelli
i capelli
Hair on the head in Italian is i capelli (kah-PEL-lee), a masculine plural. You almost always use the plural: ho i capelli biondi, not un capello, unless you mean a single strand.
At the salon
Vorrei i capelli un po' più corti.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce capelli
Say it
kah-PEL-lee
/kaˈpelli/
Capelli stresses PEL: kah-PEL-lee. Double l is held slightly longer. Final i is clear.
"Hair" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| i capelli | hair (on the head) Default plural noun. | Default plural noun. |
| un capello | a hair; a strand One strand, or figurative a hair's difference. | One strand, or figurative a hair's difference. |
| taglio di capelli | haircut At the barber or salon. | At the barber or salon. |
| capelli corti / lunghi | short / long hair Common description pair. | Common description pair. |
How to use capelli in real life
- 1At the salon
Vorrei i capelli un po' più corti.
I'd like my hair a bit shorter.
I capelli stays plural.
- 2Describing a friend
Ha i capelli ricci e scuri.
She has curly dark hair.
Adjectives agree with plural capelli.
- 3Morning rush
Non riesco a pettinare i capelli oggi.
I can't get my hair combed today.
Pettinare i capelli = comb one's hair.
Mistakes English speakers make with capelli
Incorrect: Ho il capello lungo.
Correct: Ho i capelli lunghi.
Hair on the head is plural: i capelli.
Incorrect: I miei capello sono biondi.
Correct: I miei capelli sono biondi.
Use plural capelli with plural agreement.
Good to know
Italians talk about capelli the way English speakers talk about haircuts and style: ricci, lisci, mossi, corti, lunghi. Un capello alone usually means one strand—or the tiny difference in per un capello (by a hair).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a wedding
ChatPal
Ti faccio una treccia o lasci i capelli sciolti?
Shall I braid your hair or leave it loose?
You
Lasciamo i capelli sciolti, ma ordinati.
Let's leave the hair loose, but neat.
ChatPal
Ok. Poi metto solo una molletta tra i capelli.
Ok. Then I'll just put a clip in the hair.
You
Perfetto. Così i capelli non finiscono sul vestito.
Perfect. That way the hair won't end up on the dress.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hair" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hair" in Italian
Why is hair plural in Italian?
I capelli is the normal way to talk about hair on the head. Un capello is one strand.
How do I say I have long hair?
Ho i capelli lunghi.
What is a haircut called?
Un taglio di capelli, or simply un taglio.
How do adjectives agree?
With the plural: capelli biondi, capelli corti, capelli mossi.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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