Body Parts in French: A Detailed Guide

Learning a new language involves mastering vocabulary, and knowing the words for body parts is essential for everyday conversation. Mastering common French words can enable you to understand and initiate conversations. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your French skills, this guide will help you learn the names of various body parts in French.

This blog will cover everything from basic body parts to more specific terms, providing translations and pronunciations.

Body Parts in French: Outer parts and organs

Knowing body parts in French can not only enhance your vocabulary but can also enables you to talk about your health-related issues easily. You can also consult French to English dictionary to understand the meanings of difficult words.  

Basic body parts

Let’s start with the basics. Knowing the French terms for these common body parts is fundamental.

English	French	Pronunciation
Head	La tête	lah tet
Face	Le visage	luh vee-zazh
Eye	L’œil (singular), Les yeux (plural)	luh-yuh, lay zyuh
Nose	Le nez	luh nay
Mouth	La bouche	lah boosh
Ear	L’oreille	lo-ray
Hair	Les cheveux	lay shuh-vuh
Arm	Le bras	luh brah
Hand	La main	lah man
Leg	La jambe	lah zhahm
Foot	Le pied	luh pyay
Body	Le corps	luh kor

Facial features

Understanding the terms for different parts of the face can be particularly useful, whether you’re describing someone or discussing symptoms with a doctor.

English	French	Pronunciation
Forehead	Le front	luh fron
Eye	L’œil	luh-yuh
Eyes	Les yeux	lay zyuh
Eyebrow	Le sourcil	luh soor-seel
Eyelash	Le cil	luh seel
Cheek	La joue	lah zhoo
Chin	Le menton	luh mon-ton
Lip	La lèvre	lah levr
Tongue	La langue	lah long
Tooth	La dent	lah dahn
Teeth	Les dents	lay dahn

Upper body

Here are the terms for parts of the upper body:

English	French	Pronunciation
Shoulder	L’épaule	lay-pol
Chest	La poitrine	lah pwah-treen
Back	Le dos	luh doh
Stomach	Le ventre	luh von-truh
Waist	La taille	lah tah-yuh
Arm	Le bras	luh brah
Elbow	Le coude	luh kood
Wrist	Le poignet	luh pwan-yay
Hand	La main	lah man
Finger	Le doigt	luh dwa
Thumb	Le pouce	luh poos

Lower body

Next, let’s look at the lower body parts, from the hips to the feet.

English	French	Pronunciation
Hip	La hanche	lah hahnsh
Thigh	La cuisse	lah kwees
Knee	Le genou	luh zhuh-noo
Leg	La jambe	lah zhahm
Ankle	La cheville	lah shuh-veel
Foot	Le pied	luh pyay
Toe	L’orteil	lor-tay
Heel	Le talon	luh tah-lon

Internal organs

Knowing the names of internal organs can be important, especially in medical contexts. You must also learn the days of the week in French to converse with the doctor accurately and precisely.

English	French	Pronunciation
Heart	Le cœur	luh kur
Lungs	Les poumons	lay poo-mon
Liver	Le foie	luh fwah
Stomach	L’estomac	lay-stoh-mah
Kidney	Le rein	luh ran
Intestines	Les intestins	lay an-tes-tan
Brain	Le cerveau	luh ser-vo
Skin	La peau	lah poh

Sensory organs

The sensory organs are essential for our interaction with the world around us.

English	French	Pronunciation
Eye	L’œil	luh-yuh
Ear	L’oreille	lo-ray
Nose	Le nez	luh nay
Mouth	La bouche	lah boosh
Skin	La peau	lah poh

Some useful phrases

Here are some useful phrases involving body parts in French, which can be useful in various situations.

Expressing pain or discomfort

• I have a headache. (J’ai mal à la tête).
• My stomach hurts. (J’ai mal au ventre).
• My back is hurting. (J’ai mal au dos).
• I have a toothache. (J’ai mal aux dents).

Describing body parts

• He has blue eyes. (Il a les yeux bleus).
• She has long hair. (Elle a les cheveux longs).
• I broke my arm. (Je me suis cassé le bras).
• She twisted her ankle. (Elle s’est foulée la cheville).

Asking for help

• Can you help me? I hurt my leg. (Pouvez-vous m’aider? Je me suis fait mal à la jambe).
• Where is the nearest hospital? (Où est l’hôpital le plus proche?)

Tips for learning body parts in French

Flashcards: Use flashcards to memorize vocabulary. This is a great strategy for retaining information for a longer period of time.

Labeling: Label body parts on a diagram or even on yourself with sticky notes to reinforce learning.

Practice with native speakers: Try to use the vocabulary in conversations with native French speakers. Language exchange apps can be very helpful.

Use mnemonics: Create associations or funny images to remember the words more easily.

Regular revision: Regularly review the vocabulary to move it from short-term to long-term memory.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say “head” in French?

The word for “head” in French is “la tête”. Pronounced: lah tet.

What is the French word for “hand”?

The French word for “hand” is “la main”. Pronounced: lah man.

How do you say “eyes” in French?

“Eyes” in French is “les yeux”. Pronounced: lay zyuh.

What is the term for “foot” in French?

The term for “foot” in French is “le pied”. Pronounced: luh pyay.

How do you pronounce “nose” in French?

“Nose” in French is “le nez”. Pronounced: luh nay.

How do you ask “Where is the nearest hospital?” in French?

You ask “Where is the nearest hospital?” in French as “Où est l’hôpital le plus proche ?”. Pronounced: oo eh loh-pee-tal luh ploo prosh.

Conclusion

Mastering the names of body parts in French is a fundamental step in becoming proficient in the language. This knowledge is useful for everyday conversations and crucial in medical situations and when describing people.

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