This guide covers common French vocabulary for parts of animals, useful for descriptions, stories, and nature talks.
Vocabulary
Here you’ll find key French words for animal parts, organized to help you remember them by category.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la queue | the tail | |
| l’aile (f) | the wing | |
| la patte | the paw / the leg | |
| la tête | the head | |
| le museau | the snout | |
| les griffes | the claws | |
| le bec | the beak | |
| les nageoires | the fins | |
| les oreilles | the ears | |
| la corne | the horn |
The cat uses the paw to grab objects.
| French Word | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| 🐶 un chien | a dog | |
| 🐱 un chat | a cat | |
| 🐴 un cheval | a horse | |
| 🐮 une vache | a cow | |
| 🐷 un cochon | a pig | |
| 🐑 un mouton | a sheep | |
| 🐔 une poule | a hen | |
| 🦆 un canard | a duck | |
| 🐰 un lapin | a rabbit |
Skin and Covering
This section lists terms for the different types of animal coverings, like fur, feathers, and scales.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la fourrure | the fur | |
| les plumes | the feathers | |
| les écailles | the scales | |
| la laine | the wool | |
| la peau | the skin | |
| le duvet | the down / soft feathers |
Parts for Movement
Words for parts animals use to move, including legs, fins, wings, and tails, are essential for vivid descriptions.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la patte | the paw / leg | |
| la nageoire | the fin | |
| l’aile (f) | the wing | |
| la queue | the tail | |
| le sabot | the hoof | |
| les griffes | the claws |
Head Parts
Common terms for parts of an animal’s head, like the nose, ears, eyes, and mouth, help with detailed imagery.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la tête | the head | |
| le museau | the snout | |
| les oreilles | the ears | |
| les yeux | the eyes | |
| les moustaches | the whiskers | |
| le bec | the beak |
Horns, Antlers, and Tusks
This vocabulary covers the bony or keratinous protuberances some animals have for defense, display, or digging.
| French Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la corne | the horn | |
| les bois | the antlers | |
| la défense | the tusk | |
| la ramure | the antler rack |
Useful Expressions
Short phrases that mention animal parts can be helpful in market, zoo, or nature contexts when pointing out features.
| French Expression | English Expression | |
|---|---|---|
| une queue tordue | a twisted tail | |
| une aile cassée | a broken wing | |
| une patte blessée | an injured paw | |
| des griffes acérées | sharp claws | |
| un museau humide | a wet snout | |
| un bec pointu | a pointed beak |
Summary
Learning these key vocabulary words for animal parts will help you describe animals clearly in French, whether you’re talking about pets, wildlife, or farm animals.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025