Animal parts in French cover a wide range of vocabulary that helps describe the anatomy of animals. This guide organizes the vocabulary into four main categories: head and sensory organs, limbs and movement, internal organs, and reproductive systems. Each category includes examples to illustrate how the terms are used in context.
Head and Sensory Organs
The head and sensory organs include parts related to an animal’s face, as well as the organs used for sensing the environment.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la tête | les têtes | the head | the heads | La girafe a une grande tête. | The giraffe has a large head. |
| l’oeil (m) | les yeux | the eye | the eyes | Le chat a des yeux verts. | The cat has green eyes. |
| l’oreille (f) | les oreilles | the ear | the ears | Le chien lève les oreilles. | The dog raises its ears. |
| le nez | les nez | the nose | the noses | Le cochon a un nez humide. | The pig has a moist nose. |
| la bouche | les bouches | the mouth | the mouths | La grenouille ouvre la bouche. | The frog opens its mouth. |
| la langue | les langues | the tongue | the tongues | Le caméléon sort sa langue. | The chameleon sticks out its tongue. |
| les moustaches | — | the whiskers | — | Le chat a des moustaches longues. | The cat has long whiskers. |
Limbs and Movement
These words describe the parts of an animal’s body involved in movement, including legs, feet, wings, and tails.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la patte | les pattes | the paw/leg | the paws/legs | Le chien court avec ses pattes. | The dog runs with its legs. |
| la patte avant | les pattes avant | the front leg/paw | the front legs/paws | L’oiseau utilise ses pattes avant pour grimper. | The bird uses its front legs to climb. |
| la patte arrière | les pattes arrières | the hind leg/paw | the hind legs/paws | Le lapin saute avec ses pattes arrières. | The rabbit jumps with its hind legs. |
| la griffe | les griffes | the claw | the claws | Le tigre a des griffes puissantes. | The tiger has powerful claws. |
| l’aile (f) | les ailes | the wing | the wings | L’oiseau bat des ailes. | The bird flaps its wings. |
| la queue | les queues | the tail | the tails | Le singe balance sa queue. | The monkey swings its tail. |
| le sabot | les sabots | the hoof | the hooves | Le cheval a des sabots solides. | The horse has strong hooves. |
Internal Organs
These are the important organs inside an animal’s body that keep it alive and functioning.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le cœur | les cœurs | the heart | the hearts | Le cœur bat plus vite pendant la course. | The heart beats faster during running. |
| le poumon | les poumons | the lung | the lungs | Les poumons permettent de respirer. | The lungs allow breathing. |
| l’estomac (m) | les estomacs | the stomach | the stomachs | L’estomac digère la nourriture. | The stomach digests the food. |
| le foie | les foies | the liver | the livers | Le foie purifie le sang. | The liver purifies the blood. |
| le cerveau | les cerveaux | the brain | the brains | Le cerveau contrôle les mouvements. | The brain controls movements. |
| l’intestin (m) | les intestins | the intestine | the intestines | L’intestin absorbe les nutriments. | The intestine absorbs nutrients. |
The brain controls _____
Le cerveau contrôle les mouvements.
The brain controls movements, which is 'les mouvements' in French. The sentence is 'Le cerveau contrôle les mouvements.'
Reproductive System
These terms cover the parts related to animal reproduction and the birth process.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| les organes génitaux | — | the genital organs | — | Les organes génitaux sont essentiels à la reproduction. | The genital organs are essential for reproduction. |
| l’utérus (m) | les utérus | the uterus | the uteruses | La femelle porte ses petits dans l’utérus. | The female carries her young in the uterus. |
| les ovaires | — | the ovaries | — | Les ovaires produisent des ovules. | The ovaries produce eggs. |
| les testicules | — | the testicles | — | Les testicules produisent du sperme. | The testicles produce sperm. |
| le pénis | les pénis | the penis | the penises | Le mâle utilise le pénis pour la reproduction. | The male uses the penis for reproduction. |
| la gestation | — | gestation | — | La gestation dure plusieurs mois chez les éléphants. | Gestation lasts several months in elephants. |
| la naissance | — | birth | — | La naissance des petits est un moment important. | The birth of the young is an important moment. |
The female carries her young in the _____
La femelle porte ses petits dans l’utérus.
The female carries her young in the uterus, which is 'l’utérus' in French. The sentence is 'La femelle porte ses petits dans l’utérus.'
Summary
- Head and Sensory Organs: French words for the parts used for sensing and interacting with the environment.
- Limbs and Movement: Vocabulary for legs, wings, tails, and other body parts involved in motion.
- Internal Organs: Names of key organs inside the animal’s body.
- Reproductive System: Terms related to reproduction and the birth process.
This vocabulary provides a solid foundation for discussing animal anatomy in French.
Flashcards (1 of 27)
- English Singular: the head
- English Plural: the heads
- English Example: The giraffe has a large head.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
