French · A2 (Elementary)
Body in French: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful French words for body are la gorge (the throat), l'épaule (the shoulder) and le genou (the knee). The full French body phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential French vocabulary for body, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning French to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's French curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key body vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la gorge | the throat |
| l'épaule | the shoulder |
| le genou | the knee |
| le pied | the foot |
| la dent | the tooth |
| l'oreille | the ear |
| la cheville | the ankle |
| le poignet | the wrist |
| le coude | the elbow |
| la hanche | the hip |
Example sentences
J'ai mal à la gorge.
I have a sore throat.
J'ai mal à l'épaule.
My shoulder hurts.
Je me suis blessé au genou.
I injured my knee.
J'ai mal aux dents.
I have toothache.
J'ai mal aux oreilles.
My ears hurt.
Je me suis tordu la cheville.
I twisted my ankle.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice French that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the French you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →