The human body in French : complete course

Learning a new language means discovering how people talk about everyday life. One of the first things you need to know is how to talk about le corps humain (the human body). This vocabulary is essential because we use it every day — at the doctor, in conversations, or when describing how we feel. Let’s explore the basics together!

Simple Examples to Get Started

Here are a few everyday situations where body vocabulary is useful:

• You visit the doctor: «J’ai mal à la tête.» (I have a headache.)
• You describe someone: «Elle a les yeux bleus.» (She has blue eyes.)
• You talk about an injury: «Je me suis blessé au bras.» (I hurt my arm.)

Les Éléments du Corps Humain en Français

The human body can be divided into several main parts. Let’s look at the most important ones for beginners.

La Tête (The Head)

The head contains many important features. Here are the key words:

• la tête — the head
• les yeux (singular: l’œil) — the eyes
• le nez — the nose
• la bouche — the mouth
• les oreilles — the ears
• les cheveux — the hair

Example: «Il a les cheveux bruns et les yeux verts.» (He has brown hair and green eyes.)

Le Tronc (The Trunk)

The trunk is the central part of the body. These words are very useful:

• le cou — the neck
• les épaules — the shoulders
• la poitrine — the chest
• le dos — the back
• le ventre — the stomach/belly

Example: «J’ai mal au dos après le sport.» (My back hurts after exercise.)

Les Membres (The Limbs)

The limbs are the arms and legs. They are very important in daily conversations:

• le bras — the arm
• la main — the hand
• les doigts — the fingers
• la jambe — the leg
• le pied — the foot
• les orteils — the toes

Example: «Elle lève la main pour poser une question.» (She raises her hand to ask a question.)

Pourquoi Connaître le Corps Humain en Français est Important

Knowing body vocabulary in French helps you in many real-life situations. Here is why it matters:

• At the doctor or pharmacy: You can explain where it hurts. This is critical when traveling or living in a French-speaking country.
• In daily conversations: French people often describe physical appearance or feelings using body words.
• Understanding instructions: Sports coaches, yoga teachers, or dance instructors use body vocabulary constantly.
• Reading and listening: Body words appear very often in books, songs, and films in French.

Comparaison avec D’autres Langues

It can help to compare French body vocabulary with Spanish and English. You will notice some similarities, especially between French and Spanish!

English	French	Spanish
the head	la tête	la cabeza
the eye(s)	les yeux / l’œil	los ojos / el ojo
the nose	le nez	la nariz
the mouth	la bouche	la boca
the arm	le bras	el brazo
the hand	la main	la mano
the leg	la jambe	la pierna
the foot	le pied	el pie

Notice that French and Spanish share some similarities — for example, la main and la mano both come from Latin. English is often quite different, but some words like le pied and el pie are close to the English word foot in origin.

Exemple Complet

Here is a short dialogue using body vocabulary. Imagine two friends talking:

• Marie: «Tu vas bien? Tu as l’air fatigué.» (Are you okay? You look tired.)
• Lucas: «Non, j’ai mal à la tête et j’ai aussi mal au dos.» (No, I have a headache and my back hurts too.)
• Marie: «Oh non! Tu as les yeux rouges aussi.» (Oh no! Your eyes are red too.)
• Lucas: «Oui, je vais aller chez le médecin cet après-midi.» (Yes, I’m going to the doctor this afternoon.)

This short conversation uses several body words in a very natural way. Try to memorize these phrases!

Points à Retenir

• Body vocabulary is one of the most useful topics for French beginners.
• French nouns have a gender: le (masculine) or la (feminine). Always learn the gender with the word.
• Some words change in the plural: l’œil becomes les yeux — this is irregular, so memorize it!
• Use the phrase «J’ai mal à…» to say something hurts: «J’ai mal au ventre» (My stomach hurts).
• Comparing with Spanish or English can help you remember new words faster.
• Practice by labeling body parts on a drawing or using flashcards.

Sources

• Conseil de l’Europe. (2001). Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECRL). Strasbourg: Éditions du Conseil de l’Europe. www.coe.int
• Bescherelle. (2012). La Grammaire pour tous. Paris: Hatier. — A widely used French grammar reference.
• TV5Monde. Apprendre le français — Ressources pédagogiques. apprendre.tv5monde.com — Free online French learning resources for all levels.