French · Body & Health
"Neck" in French: cou
le cou
Neck in French is le cou, masculine. J'ai mal au cou means my neck hurts. Un tour de cou is a neck warmer or scarf style.
After laptop work
J'ai mal au cou ce soir.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cou
Say it
luh koo
/lə ku/
Cou is koo, like coo. Le cou is luh-koo. Do not confuse with coup (blow) which has a silent p but same sound.
"Neck" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le cou | the neck Body part. | Body part. |
| mal au cou | neck pain After sleep or screens. | After sleep or screens. |
| tour de cou | neck warmer / around the neck Clothing. | Clothing. |
| autour du cou | around the neck Jewelry, scarf. | Jewelry, scarf. |
How to use cou in real life
- 1After laptop work
J'ai mal au cou ce soir.
My neck hurts tonight.
Mal au cou.
- 2Trying a necklace
Ça te va bien autour du cou.
That looks good around your neck.
Autour du cou.
- 3Doctor visit
Tourne le cou doucement vers la gauche.
Turn your neck gently to the left.
Le cou.
Mistakes English speakers make with cou
Incorrect: La cou.
Correct: Le cou.
Cou is masculine.
Incorrect: J'ai mal au neck.
Correct: J'ai mal au cou.
Use cou.
Good to know
Cou (neck) and coup (hit/blow) sound the same; spelling and context decide. Coup de soleil is sunburn, not a neck.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After a long flight
ChatPal
Tu as mal au cou ?
Does your neck hurt?
You
Oui, mon cou est tout raide.
Yes, my neck is all stiff.
ChatPal
Prends mon coussin de voyage demain.
Take my travel pillow tomorrow.
You
Merci, bonne idée.
Thanks, good idea.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Neck" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Neck" in French
How do you say neck in French?
Le cou.
How do you say my neck hurts?
J'ai mal au cou.
How do you pronounce cou?
Koo.
Is coup the same word?
No — same sound, different spelling and meaning.
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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