cœur
/kœʁ/masculine
The English word 'heart' is cœur in French.
The word cœur refers to the biological organ. It is also used metaphorically in several expressions, such as avoir le cœur brisé to say one is heartbroken or in affectionate terms like mon petit cœur, which translates to 'my little heart'. Additionally, cœur d'amour literally translates to 'heart of love'.
Meaning: an organ (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
cœur is the standard term used in France and Belgium.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun cœur is masculine. When referring to 'the heart', it is preceded by the masculine article le, forming le cœur. Note that the spelling uses the ligature œ, which is common in French for this specific vowel sound.
How do you pronounce it?
/kœʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, le cœur can also mean the stomach or the sensation of nausea, such as in the phrase avoir mal au cœur to say one feels sick.
- In French, the expression avoir le cœur sur la main means to be extremely generous, rather than to be physically vulnerable.
- To say someone is 'courageous' in French, you use the word courage, which shares the same root as cœur, reflecting the ancient belief that bravery lived in the heart.
Examples in context
- Tom a bon cœur.Tom has a kind heart.This sentence shows how to describe someone having a kind heart using cœur.Tatoeba #5802201 by Toynop, translation #3434277 by CK
- Elle a bon cœur.She has a good heart.This sentence demonstrates the use of cœur to say someone has a good heart.Tatoeba #1050984 by sacredceltic, translation #2845348 by CM
- Ça vient du cœur.It comes from the heart.This sentence illustrates the expression 'it comes from the heart' using cœur.Tatoeba #12310565 by lbdx, translation #9194742 by DJ_Saidez
- J'ai le cœur qui bat fort.My heart is beating fast.
- Mon cœur est à toi.My heart is yours.
- Bonne nuit, mon petit cœur.Good night, my little heart.
- 546 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A doctor is examining a patient in a clinic.
- HugoVotre cœur bat très vite.Your heart is beating very fast.
- ManonEst-ce que c'est grave ?Is it serious?
- HugoNon, votre cœur est en bonne santé.No, your heart is in good health.
- ManonD'accord, je suis rassurée.Okay, I am relieved.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart” translations and entries cœur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
