cou
/ku/masculine
The English word "neck" is translated into French as cou. Wiktionary also lists nuque.
Meaning: part of body connecting the head and the trunk (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cou | /ku/ | masculine |
| nuque | /nyk/ | feminine |
cou is used to refer to the anatomical part of the neck, but it is also the standard term used for the neck of a bottle or a musical instrument.
Which one should you use?
While cou refers to the neck in general, nuque specifically refers to the back or nape of the neck.
How do you pronounce it?
/ku/
Did you know?
- The French word nuque descends from the Arabic word nuḵāʕ, which originally referred to the spinal cord.
- French possesses a specific term for the 'crook' or 'bend' of the neck called le creux du cou, which is often highlighted in romantic literature and poetry.
- The English word 'collar' and the French word col (a neck of a shirt) share the same Latin root as cou, both descending from the Latin 'collum'.
Examples in context
- Tom a un long cou.Tom has a long neck.Tatoeba #6486839 by GB3, translation #5450503 by CK
- Il a la nuque brisée.His neck is broken.Tatoeba #5794230 by Yemana, translation #5791084 by Eccles17
- J'ai encore mal au cou.My neck still hurts.Tatoeba #11166484 by lbdx, translation #3436690 by CK
- J'ai mal au couI have a sore neck
- J'ai une douleur à la nuqueI have pain in the back of my neck
- Je me masse le cou .I'm massaging my neck.
- Elle porte une écharpe autour du cou .She wears a scarf around her neck.
- J'ai une douleur dans la nuque depuis quelques jours .I've had a pain in the back of my neck for a few days.
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are talking about a sore muscle.
- LucasJ'ai mal au cou depuis ce matin.My neck has been hurting since this morning.
- ChloéTu as peut-être dormi dans une mauvaise position.Maybe you slept in a bad position.
- LucasOui, mon cou est très raide.Yes, my neck is very stiff.
- ChloéJe peux te masser le cou si tu veux.I can massage your neck if you want.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “neck” translations and entries cou, nuque, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cou, nuque, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
