French · Body & Health
"Brain" in French: cerveau
le cerveau
Brain in French is le cerveau, masculine. Utilise ton cerveau means use your brain. Prise de tête is a headache of a situation, not the organ. Medical talk also uses cerveau for the brain.
Study joke
Mon cerveau est en bouillie après cet examen.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cerveau
Say it
sehr-VOH
/sɛʁ.vo/
Cerveau is sehr-VOH. The eau sounds like o in go. Soft c before e.
"Brain" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le cerveau | the brain Anatomy and figurative talk. | Anatomy and figurative talk. |
| utiliser son cerveau | to use one's brain Mild reproach or advice. | Mild reproach or advice. |
| cerveau lent | slow on the uptake Informal jab. | Informal jab. |
| les cerveaux | brains Plural; also smart people figuratively. | Plural; also smart people figuratively. |
How to use cerveau in real life
- 1Study joke
Mon cerveau est en bouillie après cet examen.
My brain is mush after that exam.
Figurative fatigue.
- 2Science class
Le cerveau contrôle le reste du corps.
The brain controls the rest of the body.
Literal anatomy.
- 3Gentle tease
Allume ton cerveau avant de répondre.
Switch your brain on before answering.
Casual advice.
Mistakes English speakers make with cerveau
Incorrect: La cerveau est fatigué.
Correct: Le cerveau est fatigué.
Cerveau is masculine.
Incorrect: J'ai mal au brain.
Correct: J'ai mal à la tête. / Mon cerveau est fatigué.
Don't borrow English brain; use cerveau or mal à la tête.
Good to know
French loves brain metaphors for mental load—cerveau en bouillie after exams is a student classic. For a headache, mal à la tête is more common than mal au cerveau.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After a long study session
ChatPal
Ton cerveau tient encore ?
Is your brain still holding up?
You
À peine. Mon cerveau demande une pause.
Barely. My brain is asking for a break.
ChatPal
On sort marcher dix minutes.
Let's go walk for ten minutes.
You
Oui. Sans téléphone.
Yes. No phone.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Brain" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brain" in French
What is brain in French?
Le cerveau (masculine).
How do I say use your brain?
Utilise ton cerveau.
How do you pronounce cerveau?
Sehr-VOH.
Is cerveau used figuratively?
Yes—for thinking, fatigue, and calling someone the brains of a group.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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