une main
In French, "a hand" is une main.
The phrase une main refers to the part of the human body at the end of the arm, located below the wrist.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun main is feminine, which is why the feminine indefinite article une is used to say une main. The plural form of the phrase is les mains to mean "the hands".
Did you know?
- French speakers use the expression donner un coup de main to say 'give a hand', but it literally translates to 'give a blow of the hand'.
- The word maintenant, meaning 'now', is derived from the phrase main tenant, which literally meant 'holding in the hand'.
- In French, if someone is 'caught red-handed', they are described as being caught la main dans le sac, meaning 'the hand in the bag'.
Examples in context
- Avais-je vu quelqu'un me faire signe, ou avais-je imaginé voir une main qui me faisait signe ?Did I see someone waving to me or did I imagine seeing a hand waving?This sentence is useful for describing the act of seeing une main waving.Tatoeba #7575503 by tras, translation #7575397 by karloelkebekio
- Je te tends la main pour t'aider à te relever.I give you a hand to help you get up.
- Elle écrit parfaitement de la main gauche.She writes perfectly with her left hand.
- Elle a une main très petite.She has a very small hand.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are looking at a painting of a person.
- GabrielRegarde, il a dessiné une main énorme.Look, he drew a huge hand.
- LéaC'est vrai, elle a l'air bizarre.That's true, it looks weird.
- GabrielUne main n'est pas censée être si grande.A hand isn't supposed to be that big.
- LéaC'est peut-être le style de l'artiste.Maybe it's the artist's style.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
