greffe
/ɡʁɛf/
In French, the English word transplant is translated as greffe.
In a medical context, greffe refers to the transplant of tissue or an organ. To specify the organ being transplanted, you use the construction greffe de followed by the name of the organ, such as greffe de cœur for a heart transplant or greffe de peau for a skin graft. The term la greffe de moelle osseuse is used for a bone marrow transplant, and la transplantation d'organes refers to the broader concept of organ transplantation.
Meaning: medicine: transfer (tissue/organ) (verb)
Which one should you use?
While the word transplantation exists in French, greffe is the standard and more common term used in medical contexts to refer to the transplant itself or the specific procedure.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun greffe has a related verb form, greffer, which means to graft, to implant or to transplant.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡʁɛf/
Did you know?
- The word greffe shares its linguistic roots with the word for a 'stylus' or 'pencil' in Latin. This connection exists because the act of grafting or transplanting was historically compared to the precision of writing with a tool.
- In French legal history, greffe can refer to a registry or a court of law.
- In a figurative sense, French speakers use the verb greffer to describe adding a new section to a building or a new feature to a piece of software.
Examples in context
- Il a besoin d'une greffe de rein.He needs a kidney transplant.This sentence is useful for expressing the need for a kidney transplant using greffe.Tatoeba #12310578 by lbdx, translation #5961555 by mailohilohi
- J'ai reçu une greffe de moelle osseuse.I got a bone-marrow transplant.This sentence shows how to say one received a bone marrow transplant using greffe.Tatoeba #12266709 by lbdx, translation #8359827 by CK
- Elle a besoin d'une greffe de moelle osseuse, mais elle n'a pas encore trouvé de donneur.She needs a bone marrow transplant, but she has not found a donor yet.This sentence illustrates a situation where someone needs a bone marrow transplant but lacks a donor, using greffe.Tatoeba #10543321 by lbdx, translation #2337201 by Hybrid
- La transplantation est une intervention médicale couramment utilisée pour remplacer un organe défaillant par un organe sain provenant d'un donneur.Transplantation is a commonly used medical procedure to replace a failing organ with a healthy one from a donor.
- La greffe est une procédure chirurgicale qui consiste à déplacer un organe ou un tissu d'une personne à une autre.A graft is a surgical procedure that involves moving an organ or tissue from one person to another.
- Les médecins peuvent transplanter un rein provenant d'un donneur compatible dans le corps d'un patient atteint d'insuffisance rénale.Doctors can transplant a kidney from a compatible donor into a patient with kidney failure.
- Elle a fait greffer des cheveux pour lutter contre la calvitie.She had a hair transplant to combat baldness.
- J'ai entendu parler d'une transplantation rénale réussie hier.I heard about a successful kidney transplant yesterday.
- Mon grand-père a subi une greffe de foie il y a quelques années.My grandfather underwent a liver transplant a few years ago.
- Elle a greffé une bouture de rosier dans son jardin.She grafted a rose cutting in her garden.
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are talking in a hospital hallway.
- HugoEst-ce que la greffe s'est bien passée ?Did the transplant go well?
- EmmaOui, elle est très courageuse.Yes, she is very brave.
- HugoJe suis soulagé pour elle.I am relieved for her.
- EmmaMoi aussi, Hugo.Me too, Hugo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry greffe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries greffe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
