In this grammar lesson, you will learn about parts of the body in French, and the fact that you have to use articles (le, la, les) to refer to them.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- parts of the body in French and the need to use articles
- how parts of the body are used in sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on parts of the body in French
- how to practice with flashcards on parts of the body in French
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn French
Please refer to the French A1 Curriculum to get a better overview of French grammar, if you are curious about this fits in French A1.
By the end of the lesson you will know all about parts of the body in French!
Table of Contents
Parts of the Body in French need articles
When you refer to your body in English you will say things such as:
- my hand
- my arm
- my head
- my leg
- my fingers
- my foot
However in French, this list would look a bit different.
- la main
- le bras
- la tête
- la jambe
- les doigts
- le pied
You have to use definitive articles (le, la, and les) rather than possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes) to refer to parts of the body in French.
So, rather than say, “my hand”, you would say “the hand” in French.
Please have a look to see how parts of the body in French are used in sentences.
Je veux te serrer la main.
I want to shake your hand.
Elle a un livre sous le bras.
She has a book under her arm.
J’ai mal à la tête.
I have a headache.
J’ai mal à la jambe droite.
My right leg hurts.
You can also use reflexive verbs to refer to parts of the body in French. Reflexive verbs are used to indicate an action that is done to oneself.
Vous allez vous casser la jambe, si vous faites ça.
You are going to brake your leg, if you do this.
Vas-tu te brosser les dents ?
Are you going to brush your teeth?
Je vais me laver les mains.
I am going to wash my hands.
Peux-tu me gratter le dos ?
Can you scratch my back?
These rules also apply to parts of the bodies of animals.
Example Sentences on Parts of the Body in French
The final section of this lesson on parts of the body in French is about seeing them used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding on parts of the body in French through examples.
This section contains all of the previous sentences, neatly organised in one place.
Je veux te serrer la main.
I want to shake your hand.
J’ai mal à la tête.
I have a headache.
J’ai mal à la jambe droite.
My right leg hurts.
Je vais me laver les mains.
I am going to wash my hands.
Peux-tu me gratter le dos ?
Can you scratch my back?
Vas-tu te brosser les dents ?
Are you going to brush your teeth?
Elle a un livre sous le bras.
She has a book under her arm.
Vous allez vous casser la jambe, si vous faites ça.
You are going to brake your leg, if you do this.
Quiz Yourself on Parts of the Body in French
At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want.
Time’s up
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our French A1 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 3,764 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for French A1.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
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So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
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