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Body Parts in French (Le corps)

Modified on December 29, 2025 Arti Goyal
Body Parts in French (Le corps)

This article aims to teach French body vocabulary, crucial for learners to effectively communicate and understand descriptions in French. Mastering these terms enhances comprehension and fluency, making conversations about health, daily activities, and personal experiences more precise and engaging.

Key Takeaways

  • Learning body part names in French helps you describe people, express emotions, or talk about health and daily routines easily.
  • Knowing whether a body part is masculine or feminine helps you use the right articles and sound more natural while speaking.
  • Practicing with pictures or simple sentences makes remembering French body vocabulary more fun and effective.
  • Understanding body-related words also opens the door to common French idioms and expressions used in everyday conversations.

The Face In French

Understanding facial vocabulary is essential for describing emotions and physical characteristics. This section covers the main facial features in French.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le visage The face
Les yeux The eyes
Le nez The nose
La bouche The mouth
Les lèvres The lips
Les joues The cheeks
Le menton The chin
Le front The forehead
Les sourcils The eyebrows
Les cils The eyelashes

French Words For The Upper Body 

This section focuses on lower body vocabulary, important for talking about movement and health.

FrenchEnglish translation
La tête The head
Le cou The neck
L’épaule The shoulder
Le bras The arm
Le coude The elbow
Le poignet The wrist
La main The hand
Le dos The back
La poitrine The chest
Le ventre The abdomen

The Lower Body – French Vocabulary

This section focuses on lower body vocabulary, important for talking about movement and health.

FrenchEnglish translation
La taille The waist
La hanche The hip
La cuisse The thigh
Le genou The knee
La jambe The leg
Le mollet The calf
La cheville The ankle
Le pied The foot
Le talon The heel
Les orteils The toes

The Back Of The Body In French 

These terms are useful for describing the back and related areas in French.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le dos  The back
La nuque  The nape
Les omoplates  The shoulder blades
Les fesses  The buttocks
Les reins  The lower back

French Arm & Hand Vocabulary

Detailed vocabulary for the arm and hand, crucial for discussing activities and gestures.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le bras  The arm
L’épaule  The shoulder
Le coude  The elbow
Le poignet  The wrist
La main  The hand
Le doigt  The finger
Le pouce  The thumb
L’index  The index finger
Le majeur  The middle finger
L’annulaire  The ring finger

The French Vocabulary Of The Leg

Key terms for the leg, essential for describing movement and physical activities.

FrenchEnglish translation
La cuisse  The thigh
Le genou  The knee
La jambe  The leg
Le mollet  The calf
La cheville  The ankle
Le pied  The foot
Le talon  The heel
Les orteils  The toes
Le tibia  The shin
Le fémur  The femur

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The Skeleton Names In French

Learn the names of various bones, useful for medical and educational contexts.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le crâne  The skull
La colonne vertébrale  The spine
La cage thoracique  The rib cage
Le sternum  The sternum
Les côtes  The ribs
La clavicule  The collarbone
L’omoplate  The shoulder blade
Le bassin  The pelvis
Le fémur  The femur
Les vertèbres  The vertebrae

The Various Muscles Names In French

Essential vocabulary for discussing muscles, important for fitness and health topics.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le biceps  The biceps
Le triceps  The triceps
Le deltoïde  The deltoid
Le pectoral  The pectoral
Le grand dorsal  The latissimus dorsi
Le trapèze  The trapezius
Le quadriceps  The quadriceps
Les ischio-jambiers  The hamstrings
Le gastrocnémien  The calf muscle

What Are The Names Of The Organs In French?

Key organ vocabulary, essential for medical discussions and understanding body functions.

FrenchEnglish translation
Le cerveau  The brain
Le cœur  The heart
Les poumons  The lungs
Le foie  The liver
Les reins  The kidneys
L’estomac  The stomach
Le pancréas  The pancreas
La vessie  The bladder
L’intestin  The intestine
Le côlon  The colon

French Idiomatic Expressions With The Body

Idioms add flavor to language learning. Here are some expressions related to body parts.

FrenchLiteral meaningEnglish translation
Avoir la tête dans les nuages  to have the head in the cloudsTo be daydreaming or not paying attention.
Avoir un poil dans la main  to have a hair in the handTo be lazy or avoid work
Avoir les dents longues  to have long teethTo be ambitious or greedy
Se creuser la tête  to dig into one’s headTo think deeply or brainstorm
Avoir le cœur sur la main  to have the heart on the handTo be generous or kind-hearted
Avoir les pieds sur terre  to have feet on the groundTo be realistic or practical
Avoir la chair de poule  to have chicken skinTo have goosebumps, often due to cold or fear
Avoir la langue bien pendue  to have a well-hung tongueTo be talkative or have a sharp tongue
Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre  to have eyes bigger than the stomachTo take more food than one can eat, or to be overly ambitious
Avoir un cœur d’artichaut  to have a heart of an artichokeTo fall in love easily or to be emotionally sensitive

Learn how to pronounce French words with this article Tips To Improve Your French Pronunciation. To learn more French vocabulary with these article Bird Names In French, and Animals in French.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the French name for fingers?

Ans: The French word for fingers is “les doigts.” If you’re eager to delve deeper into French anatomy, consider exploring La Forêt’s comprehensive lessons for a thorough understanding of body vocabulary and more.

Q2: What is a thumb in France?

Ans: In France, a thumb is called “le pouce.” Discover more nuanced language distinctions with La Forêt’s expert guidance on body parts and everyday expressions.

Q3: What do the French call joints?

Ans: Joints in French are referred to as “les articulations.” 

Q4: What are muscles in French?

Ans: Muscles are known as “les muscles” in French. Embark on a linguistic journey with La Forêt’s immersive experiences, offering insights into French terminology and idiomatic expressions related to the body.

Arti Goyal

Arti is a passionate French trainer with extensive experience in guiding students through DELF, TEF, and TCF exam preparation. Known for her engaging teaching methods, she combines a deep knowledge of the French language with an ability to make learning both effective and enjoyable. Arti focuses on practical communication skills, ensuring that her students not only succeed in their exams but also feel confident using French in everyday situations. Committed to her students’ growth, she fosters a learning environment where French becomes more than just a subject—it’s an enriching and lasting experience.

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