French Body Parts: Useful Vocabulary Lists of Body Parts in French

Body parts words in French is one of those foundational vocabulary topics that actually comes up way more often when learning 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.💪

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 tête and le visage)

The head is "la tête " 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:

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:

Arms and hands

The arm is "le bras " (Masculine). The hand is "la main " (Feminine).

For fingers:

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:

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.

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 cœur".

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:

Muscles are "les muscles " (Masculine). The muscular system is "le système musculaire ". If you're into fitness, you might hear:

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.

The best approach? Learn the article with the noun from the start. Don't just memorize "tête", memorize "la tête". 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:

Learning these expressions alongside basic vocabulary gives you actual conversational French instead of just textbook 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:

Notice how "mal à" changes to "mal au" or "mal aux" depending on the article of the body part. That's French contractions at work ("à + le = au", "à + les = aux").

The verb "se faire mal " means to hurt oneself:

For describing physical actions, you'll use various verbs:

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. "Tête, épaules, 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 à la tête" (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 French 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 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!

Prenez soin de vous!