jambes
The English phrase 'legs' is translated into French as jambes.
jambes refers to the parts of the body used for standing and walking. In the phrase belles jambes (beautiful legs), the adjective belles agrees with the feminine plural noun jambes.
Which one should you use?
While jambe refers to the whole leg, la cuisse specifically refers to the thigh and le mollet refers specifically to the calf.
Did you know?
- The phrase prendre ses jambes à son cou (to take one's legs to one's neck) is the French way of saying someone ran away as fast as they could.
- In French, the word jambe is used in the expression avoir les jambes en coton, which literally means to have 'legs of cotton'. It is used to describe the feeling of weakness or trembling in one's legs due to extreme emotion or fatigue.
- While an English speaker might say 'to pull someone's leg' to mean joking, a French person uses the phrase faire marcher quelqu'un, which means 'to make someone walk'.
Examples in context
- Visez les jambes !Shoot for the legs!This sentence shows how to give a command regarding the jambes.Tatoeba #4200001 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #4198160 by danepo
- Tom a deux jambes.Tom has two legs.This sentence demonstrates a simple way to state that someone has two jambes.Tatoeba #6689382 by GB3, translation #6689374 by Hybrid
- J’ai mal aux jambes.My legs hurt.This sentence illustrates how to express that one has pain in the jambes.Tatoeba #3609716 by gillux, translation #3823650 by CK
- Elle a de belles jambes.She has beautiful legs.
- Il a subi une fracture aux membres inférieurs.He suffered a fracture in the lower limbs.
- Regardez les gambettes de ce bébé adorable !Look at the little legs of this adorable baby!
- 121 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are talking after a long hike.
- ChloéMes jambes sont vraiment fatiguées.My legs are really tired.
- GabrielMoi aussi, on a beaucoup marché.Me too, we walked a lot.
- ChloéRegarde, Gabriel, tes jambes tremblent !Look, Gabriel, your legs are shaking!
- GabrielC'est vrai, je dois me reposer.It's true, I need to rest.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
