How to Say "Armpit" in French

aisselle

/ɛ.sɛl/feminine

The English word "armpit" is aisselle in French.

The term refers to the cavity located beneath the junction of the arm and the shoulder.

Meaning: the cavity beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

aisselle is a feminine noun.

/ɛ.sɛl/

The French word aisselle is a distant relative of the English word 'axle'. Both derive from a root meaning 'axis', as the armpit is the axis around which the arm rotates.
The word aisselle sounds very similar to ailes, the French word for 'wings', which is poetic since the armpits are located where wings would be on a bird.
While 'armpit' in English explicitly mentions the 'pit', the French aisselle does not contain any word for 'hole' or 'pit'.

Elle pouvait sentir une petite protubérance au niveau de l'aisselle.
She could feel a small lump in her armpit.
This sentence is useful for describing a physical sensation in the aisselle.
Tatoeba #9019042 by lbdx, translation #8955177 by Nylez
« Maman, j'ai un trou dans l'aisselle de mon pull. » « Couds-le, alors ! Tu sais où se trouve le panier de couture. »
"Mum, I've got a hole in my jumper's armpit." "Sew it up, then! You know where the sewing basket is."
This sentence shows how to use aisselle when discussing a hole in clothing.
Tatoeba #11461609 by Micsmithel, translation #10650234 by sundown
J'ai de la transpiration sous l'aisselle.
I have sweat under my armpit.

Gabriel and Léa are getting ready to go for a run.

Gabriel

Léa, est-ce que je sens la transpiration sous l'aisselle ?
Léa, do I smell like sweat under my armpit?
Léa

Non, Gabriel, tout va bien.
No, Gabriel, everything is fine.
Gabriel

Je préfère être sûr avant de partir.
I prefer to be sure before leaving.
Léa

C'est bon, on peut y aller maintenant.
It's okay, we can go now.

Sources

Wiktionary, “armpit” translations and entries aisselle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries aisselle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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