French · Body & Health
"Knee" in French: genou
le genou
Knee in French is le genou, masculine. The plural is les genoux. Mal au genou means a sore knee. You hear it a lot after sports or long walks.
After a run
J'ai mal au genou depuis hier.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce genou
Say it
luh zhuh-NOO
/ʒə.nu/
Zhuh-NOO. The g is soft like the s in "measure," and ou is oo. Plural genoux keeps the same vowel.
"Knee" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le genou | the knee Singular. | Singular. |
| les genoux | the knees Plural with x. | Plural with x. |
| mal au genou | a sore knee Pain talk. | Pain talk. |
| à genoux | on one's knees Position. | Position. |
How to use genou in real life
- 1After a run
J'ai mal au genou depuis hier.
My knee has hurt since yesterday.
Mal au genou.
- 2At the doctor
Le genou droit est un peu gonflé.
The right knee is a bit swollen.
Specify left/right.
- 3Kids playing
Il s'est égratigné le genou dans la cour.
He scraped his knee in the playground.
Le genou after body contact.
Mistakes English speakers make with genou
Incorrect: J'ai mal à mon genou.
Correct: J'ai mal au genou.
French usually says mal au genou, not mal à mon genou.
Incorrect: Mes genous font mal.
Correct: Mes genoux font mal.
Plural is genoux with x, not genous.
Good to know
Pharmacies are a first stop for a minor knee scrape ; for sports injuries, people often say genouilleres for braces and book kiné sessions.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking in after a football match
ChatPal
Ton genou va mieux ?
Is your knee better?
You
Un peu. Le genou gauche tire encore.
A bit. The left knee still pulls.
ChatPal
Repos. On marche doucement jusqu'au métro.
Rest. We'll walk gently to the Métro.
You
D'accord. Je glace le genou ce soir.
Okay. I'll ice the knee tonight.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Knee" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Knee" in French
What is the plural of genou?
Les genoux.
How do I say my knee hurts?
J'ai mal au genou.
Is genou masculine?
Yes: le genou, un genou.
How do you pronounce genou?
Zhuh-NOO, soft g.
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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