# French Body Parts: Useful Vocabulary Lists of Body Parts in French > French body parts vocabulary saves you trouble when talking to a doctor! Learn the basic words here with gender rules and practical expressions. **URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/french-body-parts-vocabulary-guide **Last Updated:** 2026-02-04 **Tags:** fundamentals, vocabulary, phrases, grammar --- Body parts words in French is one of those foundational [vocabulary](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/3-things-to-learn-a-language) topics that actually comes up way more often when [learning French](https://migaku.com/learn-french) than you'd think. Whether you're describing symptoms at a doctor's office or just following along with a French workout video, knowing these words makes everything easier.đŸ’Ș --- ## Basic French body parts in language learning Let's start with the most common parts of the body you'll use regularly. These are the words that'll come up in daily conversation, so they're worth memorizing first. ### The head and face parts French words (la tĂȘte and le visage) The head is "la tĂȘte " in French, and it's feminine. The face is "le visage " (Masculine). Right off the bat, you can see how French assigns gender to every body part, which matters for adjectives and articles. For the face specifically: | French | English | | - | - | | les yeux | The eyes | | le nez | The nose | | la bouche | The mouth | | les oreilles | The ears | | les lĂšvres | The lips | | le menton | The chin | | le front | The forehead | Hair is "les cheveux " (Always plural in French when talking about the hair on your head). You'd never say "un cheveu" unless you're literally talking about a single strand of hair. Most French people say "j'ai les cheveux bruns" (I have brown hair), using the plural form. ### The torso (le torse or le corps) The body overall is "le corps " in French. For the torso area: | French | English | | - | - | | la poitrine | The chest | | le ventre | The belly/stomach | | le dos | The back | | les Ă©paules | The shoulders | | le cou | The neck | ### Arms and hands The arm is "le bras " (Masculine). The hand is "la main " (Feminine). For fingers: | French | English | | - | - | | le pouce | The thumb | | l'index | The index finger | | le majeur | The middle finger | | l'annulaire | The ring finger | | l'auriculaire | The pinky | The wrist is "le poignet " and the elbow is "le coude ". Pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. ### Legs and feet Legs are "les jambes " (Feminine), and feet are "les pieds " (Masculine). Other leg vocabulary: | French | English | | - | - | | le genou | The knee | | la cheville | The ankle | | la cuisse | The thigh | | le mollet | The calf | | les orteils | The toes | --- ## Useful vocabulary of internal organs If you're planning to read medical content in French or just want a more complete understanding of the body in French, internal organs are useful vocabulary. | French | English | | - | - | | le cƓur | The heart | | les poumons | The lungs | | le foie | The liver | | l'estomac | The stomach | | les reins | The kidneys | | le cerveau | The brain | | les intestins | The intestines | Medical French uses a lot of Latin-based terminology, similar to English medical vocabulary. For example, "cardiac" relates to the heart in both languages, though the everyday French word is "le cƓur". --- ## Skeletal and muscular system terms For those interested in anatomy or fitness vocabulary: Bones are "les os " (Masculine plural). The skeleton is "le squelette ". Specific bones: | French | English | | - | - | | le crĂąne | The skull | | la colonne vertĂ©brale | The spine | | les cĂŽtes | The ribs | | le fĂ©mur | The femur | Muscles are "les muscles " (Masculine). The muscular system is "le systĂšme musculaire ". If you're into fitness, you might hear: | French | English | | - | - | | les abdominaux / "les abdos " | The abs | | les biceps | The biceps | | les triceps | The triceps | | les quadriceps | The quads | --- ## Are body parts in French masculine or feminine This question comes up constantly, and honestly, there's no consistent pattern. Some body parts are masculine, others are feminine, and you just have to memorize them. - Masculine body parts include: le corps, le bras, le pied, le dos, le cou, le nez, le doigt (Finger), le genou, le coude. - Feminine body parts include: la tĂȘte, la main, la jambe, la bouche, la langue (Tongue), la dent (Tooth), l'Ă©paule, la cheville. The best approach? Learn the article with the noun from the start. Don't just memorize "tĂȘte", memorize "la tĂȘte". It saves you headaches later. --- ## Common expressions using body parts French uses body parts in idioms constantly. These expressions make you sound way more natural: | French Idiom | Literal Translation | Meaning | | - | - | - | | CoĂ»ter les yeux de la tĂȘte | To cost the eyes of the head | To be very expensive | | Avoir un poil dans la main | To have a hair in the hand | To be lazy | | Casser les pieds | To break the feet | To annoy someone | | Donner un coup de main | To give a hand | To help | | Mettre les pieds dans le plat | To put your feet in the dish | To say something inappropriate | | Avoir la tĂȘte dans les nuages | To have your head in the clouds | To daydream | Learning these expressions alongside basic vocabulary gives you actual conversational French instead of just [textbook](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/best-french-textbooks) knowledge. --- ## Using body part vocabulary with verbs Body parts work with specific verbs in French. The verb "avoir " (To have) combines with body parts to describe sensations: - J'ai mal Ă  la tĂȘte
*I have a headache* - J'ai mal au ventre
*I have a stomachache* - J'ai mal aux dents
*I have a toothache* Notice how "mal Ă " changes to "mal au" or "mal aux" depending on the article of the body part. That's French contractions at work ("Ă  + le = au", "Ă  + les = aux"). The verb "se faire mal " means to hurt oneself: - Je me suis fait mal au genou
*I hurt my knee* - Elle s'est fait mal Ă  la main
*She hurt her hand* For describing physical actions, you'll use various verbs: - Lever la main
*to raise your hand* - Hocher la tĂȘte
*to nod your head* - Hausser les Ă©paules
*to shrug your shoulders* --- ## How to learn and remember French body parts Memorizing lists sucks. I've tried it, and the vocabulary just doesn't stick. Here are methods that actually work: ### Label your body in French Sounds weird, but get some sticky notes and label body parts around your house. Put "la main" on your bathroom mirror where you wash your hands. Put "le pied" near your shoes. Physical association helps memory way more than staring at a list. ### Use songs and videos to learn the body parts There are tons of French children's songs about body parts. "TĂȘte, Ă©paules, genoux et pieds" is basically the French version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". Yeah, it's for kids, but it works. The melody makes vocabulary stick in your brain. YouTube has pronunciation guides where native speakers go through body part vocabulary. Hearing the actual pronunciation matters because French sounds don't always match what English speakers expect. ### Practice with real content Watch French workout videos or yoga classes. The instructor constantly names body parts, and you can physically follow along. This combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning, which is way more effective than flashcards alone. Medical dramas in French are another solid option. Shows constantly reference body parts in context, which helps you understand usage beyond just translation. ### Create situational contexts Instead of memorizing isolated words, create scenarios. Imagine describing a sports injury: "Je me suis tordu la cheville en jouant au foot" (I twisted my ankle playing soccer). Or a headache: "J'ai mal Ă  la tĂȘte" (My head hurts, literally "I have pain at the head"). Anyway, if you want to practice this vocabulary with real French content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching French shows or reading articles. You can build custom flashcards from actual content you're interested in, which beats generic vocabulary lists. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out. learn part of the body in french vocabulary with migaku --- ## How to learn French body parts vocabulary like true French speakers? Using body part vocabulary naturally takes practice beyond just memorization. True French speakers use these words in [context](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/the-problem-with-textbooks) with proper articles, appropriate verbs, and common expressions. That's why you should learn the French language in context too, with the help of media, no matter what kind of common French vocabulary you are picking up! > If you consume media in French, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_. Prenez soin de vous!