French Words for Body Parts

Crossed arms

You’d be surprised how often you’ll need to know the French words for body parts! If you’ve ever tried reading poetry in French, you’ve probably noticed that metaphors comparing the eyes, hair, or lips of someone are key to understanding the poem.

Body part vocabulary is also essential in picking out anyone you want to refer to. If you somehow get separated from your tour group in the famously huge Paris museum, the Louvre, you’ll need to be able to describe which tour guide you were following to help track them down. Or, imagine you’re at a bar and your French friend wants to draw your attention to their ex by saying, “It’s the guy with blonde hair, brown eyes, and a beard.” Without pointing directly at someone, how will they describe who they’re talking about?

Though we hope it never happens, if you ever need to describe someone for more serious reasons, such as to the police or in an emergency situation, memorizing body part vocabulary should be a crucial first step before traveling in a French-speaking foreign country. Additionally, body vocabulary will come in handy if you ever need to see a French doctor during your travels or while living in a French-speaking country.

close up of a blue eyed girl

French Words for Body Parts

Learn body parts in French, which adjectives are appropriate for them, and how to communicate that something is in pain. Sign up for a free trial of Lingvist to start memorizing vocabulary at light speed!

French

English

bleus
blue

Elle a les yeux bleus.

She has blue eyes.

blonds
blond

Tu as les cheveux blonds ou bruns ?

Do you have blond or brown hair?

roux
red-headed, ginger

Il a les cheveux roux.

He has red hair.

mains
hands

Les mains en l'air !

Put your hands in the air!

dents
teeth

J'ai mal aux dents.

I have a toothache.

oreilles
ears

Les humains ont deux oreilles.

Human beings have two ears.

lèvres
lips

Elle a toujours le sourire aux lèvres.

She always has a smile on her lips.

épaules
shoulders

Une grande responsabilité repose sur ses épaules.

He has a big responsibility on his shoulders.

joues
cheeks

Elle a les joues roses.

Her cheeks are pink.

tête
head

Tu as mal à la tête ?

Does your head hurt?

bouche
mouth

Ce n'est pas poli de parler la bouche pleine.

It's impolite to speak with your mouth full.

barbe
beard

Il s'est fait tailler la barbe.

He got his beard trimmed.

moustache
moustache

Il porte une moustache.

He has a moustache.

dos
back

Il a mal au dos.

His back is hurting.

corps
body

Le corps a besoin d'eau.

The body needs water.

bras
arms

Viens dans mes bras !

Come into my arms!

nez
nose

Elle a un petit nez.

She has a small nose.

poils
hair

Les nageurs professionnels s'épilent les poils pour pouvoir nager plus vite.

Professional swimmers shave their body hair in order to swim faster.

ongles
nails

Elle s'est coupé les ongles.

She cut her fingernails.

FrenchEnglish
bleus

Elle a les yeux bleus.
blue

She has blue eyes.
blonds

Tu as les cheveux blonds ou bruns ?
blond

Do you have blond or brown hair?
roux

Il a les cheveux roux.
red-headed, ginger

He has red hair.
mains

Les mains en l'air !
hands

Put your hands in the air!
dents

J'ai mal aux dents.
teeth

I have a toothache.
oreilles

Les humains ont deux oreilles.
ears

Human beings have two ears.
lèvres

Elle a toujours le sourire aux lèvres.
lips

She always has a smile on her lips.
épaules

Une grande responsabilité repose sur ses épaules.
shoulders

He has a big responsibility on his shoulders.
joues

Elle a les joues roses.
cheeks

Her cheeks are pink.
tête

Tu as mal à la tête ?
head

Does your head hurt?
bouche

Ce n'est pas poli de parler la bouche pleine.
mouth

It's impolite to speak with your mouth full.
barbe

Il s'est fait tailler la barbe.
beard

He got his beard trimmed.
moustache

Il porte une moustache.
moustache

He has a moustache.
dos

Il a mal au dos.
back

His back is hurting.
corps

Le corps a besoin d'eau.
body

The body needs water.
bras

Viens dans mes bras !
arms

Come into my arms!
nez

Elle a un petit nez.
nose

She has a small nose.
poils

Les nageurs professionnels s'épilent les poils pour pouvoir nager plus vite.
hair

Professional swimmers shave their body hair in order to swim faster.
ongles

Elle s'est coupé les ongles.
nails

She cut her fingernails.

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