pouce
/pus/masculine
The French word for thumb is pouce.
pouce is the standard term for the thumb digit. To express the concept of a 'thumbs up', you can use the phrase pouce levé (literally 'raised thumb'). Additionally, the related verb feuilleter means to turn the pages of a book cursorily.
Meaning: digit (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
pouce is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/pus/
Did you know?
- The phrase mettre le pouce sur la balance describes cheating or unfair influence, recalling a time when merchants would physically press their pouce on a scale to trick customers.
- The word pouce is also the French term for an 'inch'. This is because the measurement was originally based on the width of an adult's thumb.
- The word pouce is inherited from the Latin word pollicem.
Examples in context
- Elle suce son pouce.She's sucking her thumb.This sentence is useful for describing the action of sucking a pouce.Tatoeba #12007098 by lbdx, translation #7389261 by CH
- Mon pouce me fait mal.My thumb hurts.This sentence is useful for expressing that a pouce is causing pain.Tatoeba #9549186 by felix63, translation #13717496 by zogwarg
- L'enfant suçait son pouce.The child sucked his thumb.This sentence is useful for describing a child who was sucking their pouce.Tatoeba #12210678 by lbdx, translation #11866918 by sundown
- Je me suis coupé le pouce en préparant le dîner.I cut my thumb while preparing dinner.
- J'ai coincé mon pouce dans la porte.I got my thumb stuck in the door.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are looking at a photo of Nathan's hand.
- LéaTu as une cicatrice sur le pouce, Nathan ?Do you have a scar on your thumb, Nathan?
- NathanOui, je me suis blessé au pouce l'été dernier.Yes, I hurt my thumb last summer.
- LéaC'est une blessure assez profonde.It is quite a deep wound.
- NathanHeureusement, mon pouce est guéri maintenant.Fortunately, my thumb is healed now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thumb” translations and entries pouce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pouce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
