postérieur
/pɔs.te.ʁjœʁ/masculine
The English phrase 'booty' can be translated into French as postérieur. Wiktionary also lists cul.
Meaning: The buttocks (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| postérieur | /pɔs.te.ʁjœʁ/ | masculine |
| cul | /ky/ | masculine, vulgar |
Both terms refer to the buttocks. The word cul is a common slang term equivalent to the English word 'ass', while postérieur is a more polite way to refer to the buttocks.
Which one should you use?
cul is a vulgar term, whereas postérieur is a more polite, informal way to refer to the rear. postérieur is also used in medical or scientific contexts to discuss the posterior region of the body.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cul is considered vulgar slang. postérieur is informal and more polite than cul, and it can also be used in formal medical or scientific settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔs.te.ʁjœʁ/. It has 3 syllables.
When do people say it?
The phrase plan cul is used in slang to describe a casual sexual arrangement or a 'booty call' context.
Did you know?
- The word cul appears in many common French idiomatic expressions that have nothing to do with anatomy, such as avoir du cul to mean being lucky.
- In French, the phrase se casser le cul means to work extremely hard or to exhaust oneself, similar to the English 'breaking one's back'.
- The word cul originates from the Latin cūlus, which is the root for the anatomical term in several Romance languages.
Examples in context
- C'était juste un plan cul !It was just a booty call!This sentence is useful for understanding the slang phrase 'plan cul' regarding a casual sexual arrangement.Tatoeba #10622082 by lbdx, translation #10622081 by buster_blu
- Pauline a un joli fessier.Pauline has a nice booty.
- J'ai mal au postérieur à force de rester assis toute la journée.My booty hurts from sitting all day.
- Il a un gros postérieur.He has a large booty.
- Elle travaille pour raffermir son postérieur.She is working to firm up her booty.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about a new gym workout.
- LucasCe nouvel exercice travaille vraiment le postérieur.This new exercise really works the booty.
- EmmaC'est vrai, je sens déjà la différence.It's true, I can already feel the difference.
- LucasTu veux essayer encore une série, Emma ?Do you want to try another set, Emma?
- EmmaOui, je veux un postérieur parfait !Yes, I want a perfect booty!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “booty” translations and entries postérieur, cul, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cul, postérieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
