tatouage
/ta.twaʒ/masculine
The English word 'tattoo' is tatouage in French.
tatouage is a masculine noun used to refer to an image made in the skin with ink and a needle. If you want to talk about the action of having a tattoo done to you, use the reflexive construction se faire tatouer.
Meaning: an image made in the skin with ink and a needle (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun is tatouages. From the related verb tatouer, you can use the past participle as an adjective meaning 'tattooed'. Use tatoué for the masculine form and tatouée for the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ta.twaʒ/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word tatouage shares a root with the tatou, which is the French word for the armadillo. Both terms stem from the Tupi language of Brazil.
- The French verb tatouer is often used in a metaphorical sense to describe leaving a permanent mark or a deep impression on someone's mind.
- In a professional setting, a French speaker might refer to the 'studio' as a salon de tatouage rather than just a shop or a studio.
Examples in context
- As-tu un tatouage ?Do you have a tattoo?This example is useful for asking if someone has a tatouage.Tatoeba #955140 by sacredceltic, translation #953190 by CK
- Pas mal le tatouage !Cool tattoo!This example shows how to comment on a tatouage.Tatoeba #9973889 by Micsmithel, translation #9764354 by shekitten
- Je n'ai pas de tatouage.I don't have a tattoo.This example shows how to state that one does not have a tatouage.Tatoeba #2421320 by sacredceltic, translation #2276026 by CK
- La galerie d'art expose des photographies d'individus avec des tatouages sur tout le corps.The art gallery is exhibiting photographs of individuals with tattoos all over their bodies.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are talking about a new piece of art on Hugo's arm.
- HugoRegarde mon nouveau tatouage sur le bras.Look at my new tattoo on my arm.
- EmmaC'est magnifique ! Qui a fait ce tatouage ?It's magnificent! Who did this tattoo?
- HugoC'est un artiste spécialisé dans le tatouage.It's an artist specializing in tattooing.
- EmmaJe veux aussi un tatouage comme ça.I want a tattoo like that too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tattoo” translations and entries tatouage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
