The most common and direct way to say 'feet' in French is les pieds. It's the word you'll learn in any textbook and use in most everyday situations. But what if you want to talk about your 'tootsies' or use a bit of slang? The French language, rich with nuance and informal expressions, offers several other options. Whether you're complaining about sore feet after a long walk through Paris or just want to sound more like a native speaker, knowing these alternatives can add a little flair to your vocabulary. Let’s take a look at 9 different ways to talk about feet in French!

1. The standard 'foot' – le pied

The most common and direct word for 'foot' in French is le pied. It's a masculine noun, so you'll always use masculine articles like le or un with it.

Primarily, le pied refers to the part of the body at the bottom of the leg. This is its most frequent and literal meaning, just like 'foot' in English.

The plural form is les pieds. The spelling doesn't change, but the article does. For example, un pied (one foot) becomes des pieds (feet), and le pied (the foot) becomes les pieds (the feet).

Like in English, le pied can also be a unit of measurement. However, since France uses the metric system, this is far less common in everyday life. You might encounter it in specific contexts like aviation, sailing (for boat lengths), or in historical texts.

Where le pied truly shines for learners is in its many idiomatic expressions. The word is a building block for dozens of common phrases that have little to do with feet. A very common one is à pied, which simply means 'on foot'.

Another famous expression is mettre les pieds dans le plat, which literally means 'to put the feet in the dish'. The English equivalent is 'to put your foot in your mouth'—to say something tactless or embarrassing. Mastering these expressions will make your French sound much more natural.

💡 * J'ai mal au pied droit. (My right foot hurts.)

• Nous sommes allés à l'école à pied. (We walked to school / We went to school on foot.)
• Attention où tu mets les pieds ! (Be careful where you step!)
• Il a mis les pieds dans le plat en demandant son âge. (He put his foot in his mouth by asking her age.)
• Le canapé fait six pieds de long. (The sofa is six feet long.)

1. The plural 'feet' – les pieds

The French word for 'feet' is les pieds. It's the plural form of the masculine noun le pied (the foot). Importantly, both the singular pied and the plural pieds are pronounced identically (/pye/), as the final 'd' and 's' are silent. The context and the article (le vs. les) tell you which one is being used.

When talking about your own feet in French, you typically don't use possessive adjectives like 'my' (mes) or 'your' (tes). Instead, you often use a reflexive verb with the definite article les. For example, to say 'I'm washing my feet,' you'd say Je me lave les pieds.

The word pieds appears in many useful, everyday expressions. A very common one is avoir mal aux pieds, which means 'to have sore feet'. Another is à pied, meaning 'on foot', as in Je vais au travail à pied (I go to work on foot).

Beyond its literal meaning, pied is part of a very popular French idiom: C'est le pied ! This phrase translates to 'It's great!' or 'It's awesome!'. It's a fun, informal way to express that you're having a fantastic time.

💡 * J'ai froid aux pieds en hiver. (My feet are cold in the winter.)

• Après la randonnée, j'ai mal aux pieds. (After the hike, my feet are sore.)
• Nous sommes allés à la plage à pied. (We went to the beach on foot.)
• Lave-toi les pieds avant de rentrer. (Wash your feet before coming inside.)
• Ces vacances, c'est le pied ! (This vacation is awesome!)

The affectionate 'little foot' (for children) – le peton

When talking about the feet of babies or young children, French speakers often switch from the standard word, le pied, to a more affectionate and cute term. This endearing word is le peton.

Le peton is a colloquial and tender term for 'foot,' used almost exclusively when referring to the small feet of a baby or toddler. Think of it as the French equivalent of 'little foot,' 'footsie,' or 'tootsie' in English.

Grammatically, peton is a masculine noun, following the gender of le pied. Its plural form is les petons. You will often hear it paired with descriptive adjectives like petits (small) to enhance its affectionate meaning: ses petits petons (his/her little feet).

This word belongs to a very informal, familiar, and caring register. It's a classic example of 'langage bébé' (baby talk) used by parents, grandparents, and caregivers. You would never use le peton in a formal or medical setting; it is strictly a term of endearment.

The key difference is connotation. Le pied is the neutral, standard word for 'foot' applicable to anyone. Le peton, on the other hand, is infused with affection and is specifically reserved for the tiny feet of a young child, immediately signaling a tone of love and tenderness.

💡 * Regarde les jolis petits petons du bébé ! (Look at the baby's pretty little feet!)

• Il faut mettre des chaussettes pour que tes petons n'aient pas froid. (We need to put socks on so your little feet don't get cold.)
• Le bébé agite ses petons en l'air. (The baby is wiggling his little feet in the air.)
• Fais un bisou sur les petons de ta petite sœur. (Give your little sister's feet a kiss.)

The informal 'paw' – la patte

The French word for an animal's 'paw' is la patte. It's a fundamental term used when discussing pets like cats and dogs, as well as wildlife.

As the article la suggests, patte is a feminine noun. You'll always use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as une patte (a paw) or la patte du chat (the cat's paw).

Beyond its literal meaning, la patte appears in common commands and expressions. For example, to ask a dog to 'shake,' you would say Donne la patte !, which translates directly to 'Give the paw!'

It's crucial to remember that la patte is reserved for animals. The word for a human's 'foot' is le pied. Using la patte to refer to a person's foot would be incorrect and sound quite strange.

💡 * Le chat lèche sa patte avant. (The cat is licking its front paw.)

• Mon chien sait donner la patte. (My dog knows how to shake.)
• Attention à ne pas écraser la patte du chiot ! (Be careful not to step on the puppy's paw!)
• L'écureuil tenait une noisette entre ses petites pattes. (The squirrel held a nut between its little paws.)

The slang for 'tootsies' or 'hooves' – les arpions

The slang for 'tootsies' or 'hooves' – les arpions

Les arpions is a highly informal, slang term in French for 'feet.' Think of it as the equivalent of calling feet 'tootsies,' 'dogs,' or even 'hooves' in English, carrying a humorous and slightly crude tone.

You'll hear les arpions used in very casual, familiar conversations among friends. It’s the kind of word you’d use to complain about your feet hurting after a long day, but never in a professional or formal setting.

Grammatically, les arpions is a masculine plural noun. While the singular un arpion exists, the term is almost exclusively used in its plural form. Remember to use masculine plural articles and adjectives with it.

The term likely derives from old words related to claws or talons, which explains its slightly animalistic or crude connotation, similar to calling feet 'hooves' or 'paws' in English.

In short, use les arpions when you want to be funny or complain informally about feet. It’s a colorful piece of slang that will make you sound more like a native speaker, but be mindful of its very casual nature.

💡 * J'ai mal aux arpions après cette longue marche. (My tootsies/dogs are killing me after this long walk.)

• Enlève tes arpions de la table ! (Get your hooves off the table!)
• Il faut que je me lave les arpions avant de dormir. (I have to wash my feet before going to sleep.)

The slang for 'big feet' – les panards

When you want to talk about large feet in a casual, slangy way in French, the go-to term is les panards. This colorful word is the direct equivalent of saying someone has 'boats' or 'skis' for feet.

Pronounced pa-nar, les panards (m.) is an informal and often slightly mocking term from French argot (slang). While the standard way to say 'big feet' is les grands pieds, using les panards adds a layer of familiar, sometimes teasing, emphasis. It's not necessarily mean-spirited but is definitely not a compliment.

You'll hear les panards used among friends and in relaxed situations. It's a term you might use to joke about your own feet after a long day or to lightheartedly tease a friend. For example, if someone trips, a friend might quip, 'C'est à cause de tes panards !' ('It's because of your huge feet!').

Because of its informal and slightly pejorative nature, you should avoid using les panards in formal settings, with strangers, or with anyone who might be sensitive about their foot size. Stick to grands pieds in polite company to avoid causing offense.

💡 * Il chausse du 47, quels panards ! (He wears a size 47, what huge feet!)

• J'ai mal aux panards après avoir marché toute la journée. (My dogs are barking after walking all day.)
• Fais attention où tu mets tes panards, tu vas tout écraser ! (Watch where you put your big feet, you're going to crush everything!)
• Avec des panards pareils, ça doit être difficile de trouver des chaussures. (With feet like that, it must be hard to find shoes.)

The old-fashioned slang for 'clodhoppers' – les ripatons

The old-fashioned slang for 'clodhoppers' – les ripatons

Ripaton is an old-fashioned, slang term for a shoe, particularly a large or clumsy one. Think of it as the French equivalent of 'clodhoppers' or 'boats' when referring to someone's footwear. It's almost always used in the plural, les ripatons.

While not a common word in everyday conversation today, you might encounter it in older French films, literature, or among older generations. It carries a familiar, slightly humorous, and dated tone.

💡 * Où as-tu trouvé ces ripatons ? Ils sont énormes ! (Where did you find those clodhoppers? They're huge!)

• Il a enlevé ses ripatons boueux avant d'entrer dans la maison. (He took off his muddy shoes before entering the house.)
• Mon grand-père appelait toujours ses chaussures de travail 'ses vieux ripatons'. (My grandfather always called his work shoes 'his old clodhoppers.')

The derogatory 'clogs' (for large feet) – les sabots

Literally, les sabots are 'clogs'—the traditional, heavy wooden shoes historically worn in rural areas of France.

In modern French slang, les sabots is a derogatory and informal term used to refer to someone's very large feet. It is not a compliment and is often used in a teasing or insulting manner.

The negative connotation comes from the imagery of clogs: they are seen as clunky, loud, and ungraceful. By calling someone's feet sabots, the speaker implies they are oversized and clumsy.

You would typically hear this term in very casual, familiar conversations, often as a joke between friends or as a mild insult. It's important to be aware of the context, as it can be considered rude.

💡 * Regarde la taille de ses sabots ! Il doit chausser du 48. (Look at the size of his clogs! He must wear a size 48.)

• J'ai du mal à trouver des chaussures élégantes pour mes sabots. (I have trouble finding elegant shoes for my big feet.)
• Arrête de traîner les sabots, tu fais trop de bruit ! (Stop dragging your clogs, you're making too much noise!)

The very informal 'pincers' – les pinces

Literally, les pinces translates to 'the pliers' or 'the pincers.' However, in very informal French slang, une pince refers to a stingy person or a cheapskate. It's a derogatory term used to describe someone who is extremely reluctant to spend money, similar to calling someone a 'skinflint' in English.

This term is firmly in the realm of slang (argot) and is primarily used in casual, informal conversations, especially among younger speakers. You can also use the expression être pince which means 'to be stingy.' For example, Il est super pince means 'He's super stingy.' Due to its informal and slightly insulting tone, it's best reserved for use with close friends.

While pince is highly informal, the most common and neutral word for 'stingy' in everyday French is radin (or radine for a female). A more formal and literary term is avare. To summarize the levels of formality: avare is classic (like 'miserly'), radin is the standard term (like 'stingy'), and pince is modern slang (like 'cheapskate').

💡 * Ne lui demande pas de prêter de l'argent, c'est une vraie pince. (Don't ask him to lend money, he's a real cheapskate.)

• Arrête d'être pince et paie ta part ! (Stop being stingy and pay your share!)
• Mon ex était tellement pince qu'il comptait chaque centime. (My ex was so stingy he'd count every cent.)
• Je ne sors plus avec eux, c'est une bande de pinces. (I don't go out with them anymore, they're a bunch of cheapskates.)

Are there other ways to say 'feet' in French?

Are there other ways to say “feet” in French?

Our guide has covered the most common ways to say “feet” in French, focusing on the standard term, pieds. But as with many words, French has a variety of slang, informal, and idiomatic expressions that you might hear in conversations or see in media.

You can explore further by doing an online search for terms like “argot pour pieds” (slang for feet). This can introduce you to informal words like “pattes” (paws/legs, sometimes used for feet) or “panards” (a slang term for large feet).

When you encounter a new synonym, especially a slang one, it’s vital to understand its connotation. Always check the definition and observe how it's used in context by native speakers before using it yourself to avoid any awkward situations.

Pay close attention as you watch French movies, listen to French music, or read French comics (bandes dessinées). You'll naturally start to pick up on these colorful alternatives and gain a better feel for the nuances of the language.

If you want to dive into the many expressions and idioms involving feet, the Larousse dictionary entry for pied is a fantastic starting point. You'll find dozens of phrases that are central to the French language.

I hope this article helps you put your best foot forward in your French learning journey. To finish, here is a well-known French proverb: Mieux vaut user ses souliers que ses draps. (It's better to wear out your shoes than your sheets.)