French · Body & Health
"Hand" in French: main
la main
Hand in French is la main, feminine, said meh with a nasal vowel. Les mains is the plural. Serrer la main means to shake hands.
Meeting someone
Il me serre la main poliment.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce main
Say it
meh
/mɛ̃/
Meh—nasal like pain and vin. Do not finish with a hard English n. Soft m at the start. Plural mains sounds the same in careful speech with silent s.
"Hand" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la main | hand Singular hand. | Singular hand. |
| les mains | hands Plural. | Plural. |
| à la main | by hand / handmade Fait à la main = handmade. | Fait à la main = handmade. |
| serrer la main | to shake hands Greeting in formal or work settings. | Greeting in formal or work settings. |
How to use main in real life
- 1Meeting someone
Il me serre la main poliment.
He shakes my hand politely.
Serrer la main is the handshake verb phrase.
- 2Craft market
Ces bijoux sont faits à la main.
These jewels are handmade.
À la main marks handmade goods.
- 3Asking for help
Tu me donnes un coup de main ?
Can you give me a hand?
Coup de main = help, not a literal blow.
Mistakes English speakers make with main
Incorrect: Le main gauche.
Correct: La main gauche.
Main is feminine: la main.
Incorrect: Shake la main.
Correct: Serrer la main.
Use serrer la main for a handshake.
Good to know
Handshakes remain common in French work life, though hugs and la bise appear among friends. Coup de main (a helping hand) is an everyday idiom learners meet quickly.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Learning a simple craft at a workshop
ChatPal
Prends le pinceau dans la main droite.
Take the brush in your right hand.
You
D'accord. Ma main tremble un peu.
Okay. My hand is shaking a bit.
ChatPal
Normal. Pose l'autre main pour te stabiliser.
Normal. Rest your other hand to steady yourself.
You
Merci. Mes mains sont plus calmes.
Thanks. My hands are calmer.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hand" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hand" in French
Is main masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la main, une main, ma main gauche.
How do you say handshake?
Une poignée de main, or the verb phrase serrer la main.
What is un coup de main?
Help; donner un coup de main means to lend a hand.
How do you pronounce main?
Nasal meh, like pain.
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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