How to Say "Heartbeat" in French

battement de cœur

The English phrase 'heartbeat' is translated into French as battement de cœur.

battement de cœur refers to one pulsation of the heart.

Meaning: one pulsation of the heart (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of battement (beating/pulsation) and de cœur (of heart).

While battement de cœur refers to the physical beat/pulsation, pouls is used when referring to the pulse felt at the wrist or neck.

To express the plural 'heartbeats', you pluralize the first noun: battements de cœur.

The word cœur is used in the French expression avoir le cœur sur la main, which literally means 'to have the heart on the hand' to describe someone who is extremely generous.
If a French speaker says they have le cœur qui bat la chamade, it means their heart is beating wildly, usually due to intense love or panic.
The root of cœur is the Latin 'cor', which is also the ancestor of the English word 'cordial', originally meaning 'of the heart'.

Le battement de cœur d'un albatros ralentit pendant qu'il vole. Certains pensent qu'il peut même dormir.
The heartbeat of an albatross slows down while it flies. Some think that it can even sleep.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to use battement de cœur when describing the biological functions of an animal.
Tatoeba #9208868 by Micsmithel, translation #9034302 by AlanF_US
Elle a couru si vite que son cœur battait à tout rompre.
She ran so fast that her heart was pounding.
Je peux entendre son battement de cœur.
I can hear her heartbeat.

A doctor is explaining a patient's vital signs to a nurse.

Nathan

Le battement de cœur du patient est régulier.
The patient's heartbeat is regular.
Léa

Est-ce que l'homme semble calme ?
Does the man seem calm?
Nathan

Oui, il est très paisible.
Yes, he is very peaceful.
Léa

C'est une bonne nouvelle pour lui.
That is good news for him.

Sources

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