torse
/tɔʁs/masculine
The English phrase "torso" can be translated into French as torse, tronc or buste.
Meaning: body excluding the head and limbs (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| torse | /tɔʁs/ | masculine |
| tronc | /tʁɔ̃/ | masculine |
| buste | /byst/ | masculine |
All forms of the word refer to the central part of the body, excluding the head and limbs.
Which one should you use?
While torse refers to the human torso, tronc is used to describe a trunk of a tree or the main part of a body in a clinical or structural sense. Buste is used specifically in an artistic context to refer to a sculpture or representation of a person's head and shoulders.
How does it change in a sentence?
All three forms, torse, tronc and buste, are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɔʁs/
Did you know?
- In a religious or historical context, tronc can refer to a collection box or alms box found in churches.
- The word torse actually traces its roots back to a 'thyrsus', which was a wand or staff carried by followers of the Greek god Dionysus.
- While torse refers to the physical chest and abdomen, French speakers use buste to describe the silhouette of a woman's upper body in fashion.
Examples in context
- Entre la tête et le torse se trouve le cou.Between the head and the torso is the neck.This sentence is useful for identifying the location of the neck in relation to the torse.Tatoeba #8530161 by Aiji, translation #8511552 by AlanF_US
- Mary feignit un coup au visage de Tom, mais frappa rapidement son torse avec la pointe de son sabre.Mary feinted a strike to Tom's face, but then swiftly struck his torso with the tip of her sabre.This sentence describes a strike directed at the torse.Tatoeba #11730895 by Anxxos, translation #10614235 by Auride
- Le corps humain se compose d'une tête, d'un cou et d'un torse, ainsi que d'extrémités supérieures et inférieures.The human body consists of a head, neck, and torso, and upper and lower extremities.This sentence describes the structural composition of the human body using the word torse.Tatoeba #8532982 by Aiji, translation #8511557 by AlanF_US
- Les muscles de son torse sont bien développésThe muscles of his torso are well-developed.
- Elle a les bras musclés, mais son torse manque de définitionShe has muscular arms, but her torso lacks definition.
- La blessure à son torse est douloureuseThe injury to his torso is painful.
- Il a subi une blessure grave au niveau du busteHe suffered a serious injury to his torso.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are looking at a classical statue in a museum.
- ManonCe torse de marbre est magnifique.This marble torso is magnificent.
- GabrielOui, les détails du torse sont impressionnants.Yes, the details of the torso are impressive.
- ManonIl manque les bras et la tête.The arms and the head are missing.
- GabrielC'est vrai, il ne reste que le torse.That's true, only the torso remains.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “torso” translations and entries torse, tronc, buste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buste, torse, tronc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
