German Phrase
Kämmst du dir die Haare?
Meaning
Literally, “Do you comb your hair?” It asks whether the listener performs the action of combing on their own hair. The question is informal and uses the reflexive dative ‘dir’ to show the action is done to oneself.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to ask a friend, family member, or colleague about their hair‑care routine, e.g., in the morning before leaving the house or when giving grooming advice.
✦Grammar Breakdown
KämmstdudirdieHaare?
Verb conjugation (kämmen)
‘kämmen’ is a regular verb; in the present tense, 2nd person singular adds –st: ‘kämmst’.
Reflexive pronoun (dir)
When you do something to yourself, German uses a reflexive pronoun in the dative case: ‘dir’.
Accusative object (die Haare)
‘die Haare’ is the direct object (accusative) of the verb ‘kämmen’.
Umlaut handling
The verb stem contains ‘ä’; the umlaut is kept in the conjugated form ‘kämmst’.
🗨In Conversation
Kämmst du dir die Haare?
Do you comb your hair?
Ja, jeden Morgen. Und du?
Yes, every morning. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Kämmst du deine Haare?
‘deine’ is accusative; the correct reflexive pronoun is dative ‘dir’.
Kämmst du dir die Haar?
‘Haare’ is plural; using singular ‘Haar’ changes the meaning and is grammatically incorrect here.
Kämmst du du dir die Haare?
The subject pronoun ‘du’ appears only once; duplicating it is redundant.
↔Alternatives
Kämst du dir die Haare jeden Tag?
Do you comb your hair every day?
Kämst du deine Haare?
Do you comb your hair?
Kämst du dir die Haare nach dem Duschen?
Do you comb your hair after showering?
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries personal grooming is considered a sign of respect for oneself and others. Asking about someone's hair routine is casual and usually done among friends. Note that the reflexive dative ‘dir’ is mandatory – saying ‘Kämmst du die Haare?’ sounds odd because it lacks the reflexive reference to the speaker’s own hair.