The most common way to say “body” in French is le corps. But just like in English, there are many situations where a different word might be more fitting.

As you learn French, you'll want to describe people, talk about health, or maybe even read some classic literature. Knowing the right term for “body” can add nuance and precision to your French.

Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “body” and understand the context for using each one!

The standard 'body' – le corps

The most common and direct word for 'body' in French is le corps. It refers to the entire physical structure of a person or animal.

Le corps is a masculine noun, so it always uses masculine articles and adjectives (like le, un, mon). The final 'ps' is silent, so it is pronounced like /kɔʁ/ (sounds like 'core'). The plural form, les corps, is written differently but pronounced exactly the same.

You use le corps in most literal contexts where you would say 'body' in English, especially when talking about health, anatomy, or exercise. For example, le corps humain means 'the human body'.

Beyond the physical, le corps can also refer to a 'body' in an abstract or collective sense, much like in English. This is common in professional or formal contexts:

• Le corps enseignant: The teaching staff (the 'body' of teachers)
• Le corps de texte: The body of a text
• Le corps diplomatique: The diplomatic corps

The word corps is found in many useful French expressions. A very common one is garde du corps, which means 'bodyguard'. Another is à corps perdu, which translates to doing something 'headlong' or with complete abandon.

💡 * Il faut bien nourrir son corps pour être en bonne santé.

• Le yoga est bon pour le corps et l'esprit.
• Le corps de la victime a été retrouvé près de la rivière.
• Mon corps tout entier me fait mal après ce marathon.
• Le corps électoral est appelé à voter dimanche.

The 'figure' or 'silhouette' – la silhouette

The 'figure' or 'silhouette' – la silhouette

The French word la silhouette is a direct cognate for the English 'silhouette' and is commonly used to mean a person's 'figure' or overall body shape. It describes the outline of the body, particularly in contexts like fashion, fitness, or art.

You will often hear or read la silhouette in fashion magazines, during discussions about style, or when talking about exercise and maintaining one's physical form. It’s a very common and somewhat elegant term.

The term is generally neutral to positive. While it refers to the body's shape, it often carries a connotation of grace and form rather than simply weight. For example, complimenting someone on their belle silhouette (beautiful figure) is common and positive.

Certain expressions frequently use this word. For example, garder la silhouette means 'to maintain one's figure,' and affiner sa silhouette means 'to slim down' or 'refine one's figure.' These phrases tie the word closely to concepts of health and appearance.

💡 * Cette robe met en valeur sa silhouette. (This dress enhances her figure.)

• Il fait de l'exercice pour affiner sa silhouette. (He exercises to slim down his figure.)
• On pouvait voir la silhouette des montagnes au coucher du soleil. (We could see the silhouette of the mountains at sunset.)
• L'artiste a dessiné une simple silhouette pour commencer son portrait. (The artist drew a simple silhouette to start his portrait.)

The 'physique' or 'physical appearance' – le physique

When you want to talk about someone's overall physical appearance, build, or body type in French, the noun you'll reach for is le physique.

Literally translating to 'the physique' or 'the physical appearance,' this term covers everything from someone's build and stature to their general look. It's a masculine noun, so you'll always see it preceded by le or un.

A very common way to use le physique is with the verb avoir (to have). For example, to say someone has an athletic build, you would say Il a un physique d'athlète (He has the physique of an athlete).

It's important not to confuse the noun le physique (the physical appearance) with the adjective physique (physical). The adjective is used to describe other nouns, like in l'activité physique (physical activity) or la force physique (physical strength).

While le physique is often used in a neutral sense to simply describe someone, it can also be used to compliment. Saying someone has un beau physique (a beautiful physique) is a clear compliment about their appearance and build.

💡 * Il a le physique de l'emploi. (He looks the part / He has the right physique for the job.)

• Elle a un physique avantageux. (She has an attractive figure.)
• Ne juge pas les gens sur leur physique. (Don't judge people by their physical appearance.)
• Son physique a beaucoup changé avec le temps. (His physical appearance has changed a lot over time.)

The 'build' or 'frame' – la carrure

The “build” or “frame” – la carrure

La carrure refers to the physical build or frame of a person, specifically focusing on the width of the shoulders and the upper body. It often implies a strong, broad, or imposing physique.

Beyond its literal meaning, la carrure is also used figuratively to describe someone's stature, presence, or capability to handle a significant role. For instance, avoir la carrure pour un poste means to have what it takes for a job.

Remember that la carrure is a feminine noun, so it always uses feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la carrure, une belle carrure), even when describing a man.

💡 * Il a une carrure d'athlète. (He has the build of an athlete.)

• Sa carrure impressionnante intimide ses adversaires. (His impressive frame intimidates his opponents.)
• Elle a la carrure d'une leader. (She has the stature of a leader.)
• C'est un homme d'une carrure imposante. (He is a man with an imposing build.)

The 'body type' or 'morphology' – la morphologie

To discuss 'body type' or 'morphology' in a more technical or formal context, French speakers use the word la morphologie.

La morphologie refers to the overall structure and shape of the human body. It is the direct equivalent of the English 'morphology' and is often used in contexts related to fashion, fitness, and health.

You will typically find this word in fashion magazines, on fitness blogs, or during a consultation with a personal stylist. It's more formal than simply saying la silhouette (the figure) or la forme du corps (the body shape).

A key point for learners is that la morphologie is a feminine noun. This means you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it, for example, 'cette morphologie est commune' (this body type is common).

In France, it's common to classify body types with letters, such as la morphologie en A (pear shape), la morphologie en H (rectangle shape), or la morphologie en X (hourglass shape).

💡 * Choisir des vêtements adaptés à sa morphologie est un vrai défi. (Choosing clothes adapted to one's body type is a real challenge.)

• Quelle est votre morphologie ? (What is your body type?)
• Cet article de mode explique les différentes morphologies féminines. (This fashion article explains the different female body types.)
• L'exercice peut aider à équilibrer la morphologie. (Exercise can help to balance one's body shape.)

The informal 'carcass' or 'frame' – la carcasse

Literally, la carcasse means the 'carcass' of a dead animal. It can also refer to the 'frame' or 'shell' of an object, like a building or a car, referring to its basic structural framework.

In slang and informal French, la carcasse is used humorously or pejoratively to refer to the human body. It's a rough equivalent of calling someone's body their 'frame' or 'bod' in English, often emphasizing a large, lanky, or ungainly physique.

This word is frequently used in expressive phrases. For example, bouger sa carcasse means 'to move your body' or 'get a move on.' Similarly, traîner sa carcasse means 'to drag your body around,' implying lethargy or exhaustion.

Be careful with this term. It's very familiar and not a compliment. While you can use it self-deprecatingly among friends (e.g., 'my old carcass'), using it to describe someone else can easily be taken as an insult, suggesting they are clumsy or just a big lump.

💡 * Allez, bouge ta carcasse, on va être en retard ! (Come on, get a move on, we're going to be late!)

• J'ai du mal à traîner ma carcasse hors du lit le matin. (I have trouble dragging my body out of bed in the morning.)
• Il a une sacrée carcasse, ce déménageur. (That mover has quite a frame.)

The 'torso' or 'bust' – le buste

The French noun le buste refers to the upper part of the human body, from the waist up. It translates to 'torso' or 'upper body'. It also commonly refers to a 'bust' in the artistic sense—a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.

Le buste is always a masculine noun, so you will use masculine articles like le or un. This is true whether you are talking about a man, a woman, or a sculpture.

You will frequently see this word in museums (un buste de Rodin - a bust by Rodin) or when discussing anatomy or fitness (muscler le buste - to build up the torso/upper body).

💡 * L'athlète a le buste très développé. (The athlete has a very developed torso.)

• Au Louvre, j'ai vu un buste de l'empereur romain. (At the Louvre, I saw a bust of the Roman emperor.)
• Le médecin a examiné le buste du patient. (The doctor examined the patient's torso.)
• Elle portait une robe qui mettait en valeur son buste. (She wore a dress that highlighted her bust.)

The 'organism' (the body as a living system) – l'organisme

The 'organism' (the body as a living system) – l'organisme

The French noun l'organisme (masculine) refers to the body as a complete, living system. It's a more scientific term than le corps (the body) and emphasizes the complex biological functions and interconnected systems that sustain life.

This word is commonly used in contexts related to health, medicine, biology, and nutrition. It highlights the body's internal workings rather than its external appearance.

Think of l'organisme as the 'biological machine'. While you might say J'ai mal au corps (My body aches), you would say Le virus affaiblit l'organisme (The virus weakens the organism/system).

💡 * Le sommeil est essentiel pour le bon fonctionnement de l'organisme.

• Une alimentation saine renforce l'organisme contre les maladies.
• Le stress peut avoir des effets négatifs sur tout l'organisme.

1. The 'corpse' or 'remains' – le cadavre

The most direct and common French word for a 'corpse' or 'dead body' is le cadavre. This masculine noun is the standard term used in formal, medical, and legal contexts to refer to the body of a deceased person or, sometimes, an animal.

You will typically encounter le cadavre in situations that require a factual, clinical description, such as in news reports about a crime, in a medical examiner's office, or in scientific discussions. It's the French equivalent of 'corpse' or 'cadaver' and is generally devoid of emotional connotation.

In contexts where more respect or sensitivity is required, such as discussing funeral arrangements or the return of a body to a family, the term la dépouille (or la dépouille mortelle) is often preferred. It translates more closely to 'the remains' and carries a more dignified and less jarring tone than le cadavre.

💡 * La police a retrouvé le cadavre de la victime près du lac. (The police found the victim's corpse near the lake.)

• Les étudiants en médecine doivent disséquer un cadavre pour leurs études. (Medical students must dissect a cadaver for their studies.)
• Le rapport d'autopsie a été réalisé sur le cadavre non identifié. (The autopsy report was performed on the unidentified body.)
• Après l'accident, le transport du cadavre a été pris en charge par les services funéraires. (After the accident, the transportation of the corpse was handled by the funeral services.)

Are there other ways to say 'body' in French?

Are there other ways to say “body” in French?

This list features the most common and essential ways to say “body” in French. But the language is rich with other terms, from highly technical medical vocabulary to informal slang and poetic descriptions you might find in literature.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for specific contexts. For instance, search for “le corps humain anatomie” for scientific terms or “expressions avec le mot corps” to find common idioms.

While learning synonyms is great, always check the context. A word used in an anatomy textbook will sound very out of place in a casual conversation with a friend. Pay attention to how native speakers use these words.

Listen carefully when you watch French films or listen to French music. The way people talk about the body, health, and appearance can reveal a lot about cultural perspectives and everyday language.

If you want to explore more vocabulary related to the body, from specific parts to abstract concepts, the Larousse dictionary entry for corps is a fantastic and reliable resource to start with.

I hope this guide has been helpful. Let's end with a famous French proverb that perfectly connects the physical and the mental: Un esprit sain dans un corps sain. (A healthy mind in a healthy body.)