talon
/ta.lɔ̃/masculine
The English word heel translates to French as talon.
The noun talon is used to refer to the anatomical heel of a foot, but it also refers to the heel of a shoe or boot. Relatedly, the verb talonner means to follow closely at someone's heels, a term often used in the context of racing or sports.
Meaning: anatomy: part of the foot (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /ta.lɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- In French accounting or ticketing, a talon is the 'stub' or counterfoil of a check or ticket that is kept for record-keeping.
- If you are working in a French kitchen, a 'talon' can refer to the remaining small piece or 'heel' of a loaf of bread or a block of cheese.
- In the world of French fashion, a talon aiguille is a 'stiletto heel'. Literally, it translates to 'needle heel', highlighting the thinness of the footwear.
Examples in context
- Il écrasa l'insecte du talon.He squashed the insect with the heel of his foot.The first sentence shows how to use talon to describe squashing something with the heel of a foot.Tatoeba #544936 by sacredceltic, translation #526828 by darinmex
- Il a écrasé l'insecte avec son talon.He crushed the insect with his heel.The second sentence demonstrates using talon to describe crushing something with one's heel.Tatoeba #8646440 by Aiji, translation #6978329 by AlanF_US
- Achille était pourvu d'un talon vulnérable.Achilles had a vulnerable heel.The third sentence uses talon in a sentence regarding Achilles' vulnerable heel.Tatoeba #971342 by sacredceltic, translation #10386936 by DJ_Saidez
- J'aime beaucoup ces chaussures à talons hauts.I really like these high-heeled shoes.
- Ta nouvelle paire de talons hauts est incroyable !Your new pair of high-heeled shoes is amazing!
- Je préfère les chaussures avec des talons plutôt que plates.I prefer shoes with heels rather than flat shoes.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are talking about a blister on Nathan's foot.
- NathanJ'ai une ampoule au talon.I have a blister on my heel.
- LéaEst-ce que tes chaussures sont trop petites ?Are your shoes too small?
- NathanOui, elles frottent contre mon talon.Yes, they rub against my heel.
- LéaTu devrais mettre un pansement, Nathan.You should put on a bandage, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heel” translations and entries talon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
