Body Parts in French: The Full List, and How to Say It Hurts
Body parts in French, head to toe, plus the essential avoir mal à formula for saying where it hurts - j'ai mal à la tête and more.
Core body parts in French: la tête (head), les yeux (eyes), le nez (nose), la bouche (mouth), le bras (arm), la jambe (leg), le pied (foot). To say something hurts, use avoir mal à + body part: j’ai mal à la tête (I have a headache), j’ai mal au dos (my back hurts).
Quick answer
Core body parts in French: la tête (head), les yeux (eyes), le nez (nose), la bouche (mouth), le bras (arm), la jambe (leg), le pied (foot). To say something hurts, use avoir mal à + body part: j’ai mal à la tête (I have a headache), j’ai mal au dos (my back hurts).
Learn body vocabulary with native audio. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
The face (le visage)
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| les yeux | eyes |
| le nez | nose |
| la bouche | mouth |
| les oreilles | ears |
| les cheveux | hair |
The torso and limbs
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| la tête | head |
| le bras | arm |
| la main | hand |
| la jambe | leg |
| le pied | foot |
| le dos | back |
| le ventre | stomach |
Saying it hurts: avoir mal à
J’ai mal à la tête (headache), j’ai mal au dos (au = à+le, my back hurts), j’ai mal aux pieds (aux = à+les, my feet hurt) - the contraction payoff in action, see à contractions: au, aux.
Body idioms bonus
avoir la main verte (green thumb), ne pas avoir sa langue dans sa poche (not mince words - lit. not have your tongue in your pocket), coûter les yeux de la tête (cost an arm and a leg). See French idioms for more.
Body vocabulary, fully mastered
LexiFr teaches French vocabulary with native audio, so describing how you feel is never a struggle.
Free to start - no ads, no streak guilt. Your first 200 words are waiting.
Questions about this note
How do you say "my head hurts" in French?
J'ai mal à la tête.
What's the pattern for saying pain in French?
avoir mal à + body part, with à contracting to au or aux.
How do you say eyes and ears in French?
les yeux, les oreilles.
What does avoir la main verte mean?
To have a green thumb - be good at gardening.
How do you say "it hurts everywhere"?
J'ai mal partout.