French · Body & Health
"Toe" in French: orteil
l'orteil
Toe in French is l'orteil, masculine. Plural les orteils. Say Je me suis cogné l'orteil when you stub a toe.
After bumping furniture
Aïe, je me suis cogné l'orteil !Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce orteil
Say it
lor-TAY
/l‿ɔʁ.tɛj/
lor-TAY. Elision on l'; stress on tay; final l silent in careful speech often soft.
"Toe" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'orteil | the toe Default. | Default. |
| les orteils | the toes Plural. | Plural. |
| le gros orteil | the big toe Specific toe. | Specific toe. |
| se cogner l'orteil | to stub one's toe Pain phrase. | Pain phrase. |
How to use orteil in real life
- 1After bumping furniture
Aïe, je me suis cogné l'orteil !
Ow, I stubbed my toe!
L'orteil.
- 2Shoe shopping
Ces chaussures écrasent mon gros orteil.
These shoes crush my big toe.
Gros orteil.
- 3Beach
Le sable chaud brûle les orteils.
The hot sand burns your toes.
Les orteils plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with orteil
Incorrect: Le orteil.
Correct: L'orteil.
Elide: l'orteil.
Incorrect: Le doigt de pied only (ignoring orteil)
Correct: L'orteil.
Orteil is the normal word; doigt de pied is understood but heavier.
Good to know
French speakers say orteil far more than doigt de pied. Gros orteil shows up in shoe complaints and sports injuries.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After someone drops a book on a foot
ChatPal
Ça va ? C'est quel orteil ?
You okay? Which toe is it?
You
Le gros orteil, je crois.
The big toe, I think.
ChatPal
Mets de la glace sur l'orteil.
Put ice on the toe.
You
Oui, j'y vais.
Yes, I'm on it.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Toe" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Toe" in French
How do you say toe in French?
L'orteil.
What is the big toe?
Le gros orteil.
How do you say toes?
Les orteils.
How do you pronounce orteil?
or-TAY.
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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