Learning body parts in French is much easier when you know the gender of each word. In French, every noun is either masculine (le / un) or feminine (la / une). This guide lists body parts from head to toe with their correct gender, plus grammar rules, example sentences, and common expressions.
💬 Let us know in the comments: Do you know any other French expressions using body parts? Share them below — we would love to learn from you!
Body Parts Vocabulary – Head to Toe (with Gender)
- le corps (masculine) – body
- les cheveux (masculine, always plural) – hair
- la tête (feminine) – head
- le visage (masculine) – face
- l'œil (masculine) – eye → les yeux (masculine plural) – eyes
- le nez (masculine) – nose
- la joue (feminine) – cheek
- la bouche (feminine) – mouth
- la lèvre (feminine) – lip
- la dent (feminine) – tooth → les dents (feminine plural)
- l'oreille (feminine) – ear
- le cou (masculine) – neck
- la poitrine (feminine) – chest
- l'estomac (masculine) – stomach
- le ventre (masculine) – belly / abdomen
- le bras (masculine) – arm
- l'épaule (feminine) – shoulder
- le coude (masculine) – elbow
- le poignet (masculine) – wrist
- la main (feminine) – hand (⚠️ irregular feminine)
- le doigt (masculine) – finger
- l'ongle (masculine) – fingernail
- le pouce (masculine) – thumb
- le dos (masculine) – back
- la jambe (feminine) – leg
- la cheville (feminine) – ankle
- le pied (masculine) – foot
- l'orteil (masculine) – toe
Additional Body Parts (Not in the Original List)
- le genou (masculine) – knee
- le mollet (masculine) – calf
- le talon (masculine) – heel
- la hanche (feminine) – hip
- le sourcil (masculine) – eyebrow → les sourcils
- le cil (masculine) – eyelash → les cils
- la paupière (feminine) – eyelid
- le menton (masculine) – chin
- la nuque (feminine) – back of the neck
- le poing (masculine) – fist
- la cage thoracique (feminine) – ribcage
- le poumon (masculine) – lung
- le cœur (masculine) – heart
Key Grammar Rules for Body Parts
- Use definite articles (le/la/les) instead of possessive adjectives when the owner is clear.
Example: Je me lave les mains. (I wash my hands.) NOT Je lave mes mains. - Reflexive verbs are very common with body parts.
Examples: se brosser les dents (to brush one's teeth), se couper les cheveux (to cut one's hair). - To express pain, use: avoir mal à + le/la/l'/les
Examples: J'ai mal à la tête. (I have a headache.)
J'ai mal aux yeux. (My eyes hurt.)
J'ai mal au dos. (My back hurts.)
Example Sentences
- Elle a les yeux verts. – She has green eyes.
- Il se brosse les dents chaque matin. – He brushes his teeth every morning.
- Lave-toi le visage avant de sortir. – Wash your face before going out.
- Je me suis cassé le bras en jouant au foot. – I broke my arm playing soccer.
- Elle a une bague en or au doigt. – She has a gold ring on her finger.
- Il a les cheveux longs et bouclés. – He has long curly hair.
- J'ai mal à la cheville. – My ankle hurts.
- Tu as froid aux mains ? – Are your hands cold?
Common French Expressions Using Body Parts
- Avoir la tête sur les épaules – to be level-headed (lit. to have one's head on one's shoulders)
- Coûter les yeux de la tête – to cost an arm and a leg (lit. to cost the eyes of the head)
- Ne pas avoir froid aux yeux – to be fearless / bold (lit. to not have cold eyes)
- Avoir le cœur sur la main – to be very generous (lit. to have one's heart on one's hand)
- Prendre ses jambes à son cou – to run away quickly (lit. to take one's legs to one's neck)
- Avoir la main verte – to have a green thumb (good at gardening)
- Être sur les dents – to be exhausted (lit. to be on one's teeth)
- Casser les pieds à quelqu'un – to annoy someone (lit. to break someone's feet)
- Avoir le bras long – to have influence / connections (lit. to have a long arm)
- Faire la tête – to sulk (lit. to make the head)
- Se creuser la tête – to rack one's brain (lit. to dig one's head)
- Avoir un chat dans la gorge – to have a frog in one's throat (lit. to have a cat in the throat)
💬 Now It's Your Turn!
Do you know any other French expressions using body parts?
Maybe you have heard:
- Mettre les pieds dans le plat (to put one's foot in it)
- Se mordre les doigts (to regret something bitterly)
- Avoir le nez creux (to have good instincts / intuition)
👉 Leave a comment below with your favorite expression! We would love to learn from you and build a bigger list together.
Practice Exercise
Translate into French. Pay attention to gender and the avoir mal à structure:
- I have a headache.
- She broke her leg.
- He has blue eyes.
- My hands are cold.
- Wash your face.
- His back hurts.
Answers:
1. J'ai mal à la tête.
2. Elle s'est cassé la jambe.
3. Il a les yeux bleus.
4. J'ai froid aux mains.
5. Lave-toi le visage.
6. Il a mal au dos.
Final Tips
- Always learn the gender with the noun: la main not just main.
- Practice daily by pointing to body parts and saying the French word out loud.
- Use J'ai mal à... + body part to talk about pain — very useful at the doctor or pharmacy.
- Read the comments section (if available) to discover new expressions from other learners.
💪 Keep practicing, and soon you will know French body parts better than your own!