French · Body & Health
"Cheek" in French: joue
la joue
Cheek in French is la joue, feminine. Sur la joue means on the cheek. French greetings often use kisses on the cheeks: faire la bise.
Makeup tip
Mets un peu de blush sur la joue.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce joue
Say it
ZHOO
/ʒu/
ZHOO. Soft j like the s in "measure". One syllable; silent e.
"Cheek" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la joue | the cheek Face part. | Face part. |
| les joues | the cheeks Plural. | Plural. |
| sur la joue | on the cheek Location, makeup, kisses. | Location, makeup, kisses. |
| avoir les joues roses | to have rosy cheeks Cold weather or blushing. | Cold weather or blushing. |
How to use joue in real life
- 1Makeup tip
Mets un peu de blush sur la joue.
Put a bit of blush on your cheek.
Sur la joue for placement.
- 2After the cold
Tu as les joues toutes rouges.
Your cheeks are all red.
Les joues plural.
- 3Kids' book
Le chat frotte sa joue contre moi.
The cat rubs its cheek against me.
Sa joue with possessive.
Mistakes English speakers make with joue
Incorrect: Le joue gauche.
Correct: La joue gauche.
Joue is feminine: la joue.
Incorrect: Un bisou sur le cheek.
Correct: Un bisou sur la joue.
Use joue, not English cheek.
Good to know
Faire la bise is kissing cheeks to say hello; how many kisses depends on the region. People still say sur la joue when talking about makeup, sunburn, or a soft touch.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Helping with sunscreen
ChatPal
Tu as mis de la crème sur la joue ?
Did you put cream on your cheek?
You
Sur la joue gauche, oui. Pas l'autre.
On the left cheek, yes. Not the other.
ChatPal
Attends, j'en remets un peu sur ta joue.
Wait, I'll put a bit more on your cheek.
You
Merci, le soleil tape fort.
Thanks, the sun is strong.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cheek" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cheek" in French
What gender is joue?
Feminine: la joue.
How do I say cheeks?
Les joues.
How do you pronounce joue?
ZHOO, like the s in measure plus oo.
Is joue used in greetings?
Yes, with faire la bise (cheek kisses).
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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