pointes des pieds
The English phrase "tippy toes" is translated into French as pointes des pieds.
The term pointes des pieds refers to the very front part of the feet, specifically the tips of the toes. To say someone is walking on 'tippy toes', use the prepositional phrase sur la pointe des pieds.
Did you know?
- While pointes des pieds refers to the toes, the word pointe is also used to describe the 'top' or 'peak' of a mountain, linking a part of the body to a geographic feature.
- While 'tippy toes' sounds playful in English, using sur la pointe des pieds in French can also be used metaphorically to mean someone is acting with extreme caution or being 'sneaky' in a social situation.
- The word pied in pointes des pieds is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'pedal', as both derive from the Latin 'pes' meaning 'foot'.
Examples in context
- Marie s'est approchée du chat sur la pointe des pieds pour ne pas l'effrayer.Marie approached the cat on her tippy toes to avoid scaring it.
- Les enfants marchaient sur la pointe des pieds pour ne pas réveiller leurs parents.The children walked on their tippy toes to avoid waking up their parents.
- Il marche sur la pointe des pieds pour ne pas réveiller le bébé.He is walking on tiptoe so as not to wake the baby.
- Elle danse sur les pointes des pieds.She is dancing on the tips of her toes.
- L'enfant marche sur les pointes des pieds.The child is walking on tippy toes.
Example conversation
Manon is teaching Gabriel a ballet move in a dance studio.
- GabrielManon, est-ce que je suis bien positionné ?Manon, am I positioned correctly?
- ManonOui Gabriel, mais lève un peu plus les pointes des pieds.Yes Gabriel, but lift the tips of your toes a bit more.
- GabrielComme ça, sur les pointes des pieds ?Like this, on tippy toes?
- ManonParfait, c'est exactement ce qu'il faut faire.Perfect, that is exactly what you need to do.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries des, CC BY-SA 4.0.
