Cœur is the most common and direct way to say “heart” in French. But just like in English, the concept of “heart” can be used in many different contexts, from expressing deep emotions to talking about courage or even the physical organ itself. As you delve deeper into French, you’ll find that understanding these nuances will enrich your communication and help you express yourself with precision and feeling. Let’s explore the many ways to say “heart” (and all its related meanings) in French!

The standard 'heart' (the organ, the emotion) – cœur

The standard “heart” (the organ, the emotion) – cœur

Cœur is the most common and fundamental French word for “heart”.

Cœur is a masculine noun. Its plural form is cœurs.

un cœur - a heart
le cœur - the heart
des cœurs - hearts
les cœurs - the hearts

When referring to the anatomical organ responsible for pumping blood, cœur is the word you'll use. For example, in medical contexts or when talking about your physical well-being.

Beyond its biological meaning, cœur is extensively used to express emotions, courage, the core of something, or even generosity. It's often the seat of feelings in French expressions.

Like in English, cœur is a central element in numerous idiomatic expressions, enriching the language with poetic and emotional depth.

Some common expressions include:

avoir bon cœur (to be kind-hearted/generous)
par cœur (by heart, from memory)
de tout mon cœur (with all my heart)
un coup de cœur (a crush, a favorite, a spontaneous liking)
avoir le cœur brisé (to have a broken heart)

For instance, Le médecin a écouté son cœur (The doctor listened to his heart) refers to the organ, while Elle a un grand cœur (She has a big heart) implies generosity.

The cœur holds a profound place in French culture, often appearing in literature, songs, and poetry as the symbol of love, passion, and the very essence of a person. It's deeply intertwined with romantic and emotional narratives.

Fortunately, the specific meaning of cœur – whether physical or emotional – is almost always clear from the surrounding context of the sentence or conversation.

💡 * Mon cœur bat très vite quand je cours. (My heart beats very fast when I run.)

J'ai appris cette chanson par cœur. (I learned this song by heart.)

Elle a eu un coup de cœur pour cette maison. (She fell in love with this house / She had a crush on this house.)

Je te remercie de tout mon cœur. (I thank you with all my heart.)

Prends courage, mon cœur. (Take heart, my dear/love.)

The 'sweetheart' or 'darling' – mon cœur

The French term mon cœur literally translates to “my heart,” but it is widely used as a term of endearment, meaning “sweetheart” or “darling.”

Most commonly, mon cœur is used between romantic partners. It’s a very affectionate and intimate way to address someone you love deeply.

Beyond romantic relationships, parents might use mon cœur to address their children, or grandparents to their grandchildren. It signifies a profound bond and affection within the family.

Unlike some more casual terms of endearment, mon cœur carries a significant emotional weight, conveying deep love, tenderness, and a strong personal connection. It's a truly heartfelt expression.

One of the beautiful aspects of mon cœur is its gender-neutrality; it can be used for anyone, regardless of gender. It is almost always used in direct address, similar to saying “honey” or “sweetie” in English.

💡 * Bonjour, mon cœur, comment vas-tu ce matin ? (Hello, my darling, how are you this morning?)

Viens ici, mon cœur, je t'ai préparé ton plat préféré. (Come here, sweetheart, I've prepared your favorite dish.)

Ne t'inquiète pas, mon cœur, tout va bien se passer. (Don't worry, my darling, everything will be fine.)

Bonne nuit, mon cœur, fais de beaux rêves. (Good night, my love, sweet dreams.)

The 'broken heart' – cœur brisé

To express the profound sadness of a 'broken heart' in French, you'll use the poignant phrase cœur brisé.

Let's first look at cœur (pronounced ker). This word directly translates to 'heart' and is fundamental to many French expressions related to emotions and feelings.

Next, we have brisé (pronounced bree-zay). This is the past participle of the verb briser, which means 'to break.' So, literally, cœur brisé means 'heart broken.'

When combined, cœur brisé functions as a descriptive noun phrase. You'll often see it used with the indefinite article un (e.g., un cœur brisé). More commonly, you'll encounter the expression avoir le cœur brisé, meaning 'to have a broken heart.'

This phrase is almost exclusively used to describe intense emotional pain, typically from romantic disappointment, loss, or deep betrayal. It's a powerful way to convey profound sorrow.

While cœur brisé is the standard, you might also hear phrases like briser le cœur à quelqu'un ('to break someone's heart') or avoir le cœur en miettes ('to have one's heart in pieces,' an even stronger expression of brokenness).

💡 * Elle a le cœur brisé depuis qu'il est parti. (She has a broken heart since he left.)

Après la rupture, il avait un cœur brisé. (After the breakup, he had a broken heart.)

Je ne veux pas te briser le cœur. (I don't want to break your heart.)

Son cœur était brisé par la nouvelle. (Her heart was broken by the news.)

The 'heartbeat' – battement de cœur

The French term for 'heartbeat' is battement de cœur.

This phrase literally translates to 'beating of heart'. Battement (masculine noun) means 'beat', 'beating', or 'flap', deriving from the verb battre (to beat). Cœur (masculine noun) means 'heart'.

It is used in both literal and figurative senses, much like in English. You can refer to a physiological heartbeat or use it metaphorically for a moment of intense emotion or a deep connection.

Commonly, you might hear 'un battement de cœur rapide' (a fast heartbeat) or 'mon cœur a fait un battement' (my heart skipped a beat).

💡 * J'ai senti un battement de cœur rapide après la course. (I felt a fast heartbeat after the race.)

Chaque battement de cœur est un miracle. (Every heartbeat is a miracle.)

Son absence me cause des battements de cœur. (His absence causes my heart to pound.)

Ce fut un battement de cœur, et tout a changé. (It was a heartbeat, and everything changed.)

J'entends le battement de ton cœur. (I hear the beating of your heart.)

The 'heart attack' – crise cardiaque

The 'heart attack' – crise cardiaque

In French, crise cardiaque is the direct and most common translation for 'heart attack.' It refers to a serious medical emergency where blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked.

This term is universally understood and used in both formal medical contexts and everyday conversations when discussing a heart attack.

You would use crise cardiaque to describe someone having a heart attack, discussing a past event, or talking about the medical condition in general.

While crise cardiaque is common, you might also encounter the more clinical term, infarctus (short for infarctus du myocarde), which specifically refers to a myocardial infarction. Both are used, but crise cardiaque is more prevalent in general conversation.

Pronounce it as creez car-dee-ACK. The 'i' in crise is like the 'ee' in 'see,' and the 'a' in cardiaque is like the 'a' in 'father.'

💡 * Il a fait une crise cardiaque hier soir. (He had a heart attack last night.)

Elle a été transportée à l'hôpital après une crise cardiaque. (She was rushed to the hospital after a heart attack.)

Les symptômes d'une crise cardiaque peuvent inclure des douleurs à la poitrine. (Symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain.)

C'est une urgence médicale, comme une crise cardiaque. (It's a medical emergency, like a heart attack.)

Mon grand-père a survécu à une crise cardiaque il y a dix ans. (My grandfather survived a heart attack ten years ago.)

The 'heart of the matter' or 'core' – le cœur du problème

In French, le cœur literally means 'the heart,' and le problème means 'the problem.' When combined as le cœur du problème, it translates directly to 'the heart of the problem.' This idiom is used to refer to the central, most critical, or fundamental aspect of an issue or situation.

This phrase is frequently employed when discussing complex situations, debates, or challenges, indicating that one is getting to the essential point rather than superficial details. It helps to pinpoint the root cause or the most significant element that needs to be addressed.

You'll often hear le cœur du problème in professional settings, academic discussions, or even everyday conversations when people are trying to analyze and resolve difficulties. It signifies a desire to move past symptoms and grasp the fundamental truth of a matter.

While it literally contains 'problème,' the phrase can sometimes extend to mean the 'core' or 'essence' of something, even if it's not strictly a problem. For example, 'le cœur du sujet' (the heart of the subject) carries a similar meaning of getting to the main point.

💡 * Le cœur du problème est notre manque de communication. (The heart of the problem is our lack of communication.)

Pour résoudre la crise, nous devons identifier le cœur du problème. (To solve the crisis, we must identify the heart of the problem.)

Son analyse a vraiment touché le cœur du problème. (His analysis really touched the heart of the matter.)

Quel est le cœur du problème dans cette affaire ? (What is the core issue in this matter?)

Nous devons nous concentrer sur le cœur du problème et non sur les détails secondaires. (We must focus on the heart of the problem and not on secondary details.)

The 'heart' (as in a playing card suit or shape) – le cœur (forme/couleur)

When referring to the heart as a playing card suit or a shape, the French word to use is le cœur.

This term specifically denotes the red heart symbol found in card games (une couleur - a suit) or the general heart shape (une forme). It's important to distinguish this from the anatomical organ, which also uses le cœur but in a different context.

Grammatically, le cœur is always a masculine noun in French, regardless of whether you're talking about the card suit, the shape, or the organ.

💡 * J'ai une dame de cœur. (I have a queen of hearts.)

Elle a dessiné un grand cœur sur la carte. (She drew a big heart on the card.)

Les cœurs sont une couleur forte dans ce jeu. (Hearts are a strong suit in this game.)

Ce pendentif a la forme d'un cœur. (This pendant is in the shape of a heart.)

The 'open-hearted' or 'sincere' – le cœur ouvert

The 'open-hearted' or 'sincere' – le cœur ouvert

The French expression le cœur ouvert literally translates to 'the open heart'. It describes someone who is very sincere, honest, and willing to share their feelings and thoughts openly.

This phrase implies a person who is frank, trusting, and approachable, often used to commend someone's transparency and willingness to connect deeply with others. It highlights emotional accessibility.

You'll often hear it used adverbially, such as parler à cœur ouvert (to speak openly/frankly) or accueillir quelqu'un à cœur ouvert (to welcome someone with open arms/wholeheartedly).

💡 * Il parle toujours à cœur ouvert, on sait ce qu'il pense. (He always speaks openly, we know what he thinks.)

Elle a accueilli ses nouveaux voisins à cœur ouvert. (She welcomed her new neighbors with open arms/wholeheartedly.)

C'est une personne au cœur ouvert, toujours prête à écouter. (She's an open-hearted person, always ready to listen.)

Nous avons eu une discussion à cœur ouvert sur nos problèmes. (We had an open-hearted discussion about our problems.)

The 'lighthearted' or 'carefree' – le cœur léger

To express the feeling of being 'lighthearted' or 'carefree' in French, you'll often encounter the beautiful idiom le cœur léger. Literally, this phrase translates to 'the light heart'.

Beyond its literal translation, le cœur léger conveys a sense of freedom from worry, anxiety, or a heavy burden. It describes a state of mind where one feels joyful, relieved, and unencumbered.

This expression is typically used when someone has overcome a difficulty, completed a task, or been freed from a responsibility that was weighing on them. It signifies a positive emotional shift, often after a period of stress or concern.

The phrase le cœur léger is an idiomatic expression. Cœur is a masculine noun, and léger (light) is an adjective that agrees with it. It can be used with verbs like avoir (to have) or partir (to leave) to describe someone's emotional state, for example, avoir le cœur léger (to have a light heart) or partir le cœur léger (to leave with a light heart).

Using le cœur léger paints a vivid picture of emotional lightness, suggesting a person who is ready to embrace new experiences without the weight of past troubles. It's a poetic way to describe a serene and optimistic disposition.

💡 *Elle est partie en vacances le cœur léger après avoir terminé son projet. (She left for vacation lighthearted after finishing her project.)
*Après l'examen, j'avais enfin le cœur léger. (After the exam, I finally had a light heart/felt carefree.)
*Il abordait chaque nouvelle journée le cœur léger, plein d'optimisme. (He approached each new day lighthearted, full of optimism.)
*La nouvelle l'a laissée le cœur léger. (The news left her lighthearted.)
*Avec le problème résolu, nous pouvions tous dormir le cœur léger. (With the problem solved, we could all sleep carefree.)

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

Our list covers the most common ways to say 'heart' in French. However, the French language is rich with expressions and nuances, so you'll find other terms, from poetic and literary uses to regional variations and even modern slang.

For specific regional or idiomatic expressions, you can also do an online search for 'comment dire coeur en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might discover some interesting synonyms or related expressions for cœur as you delve deeper. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read French literature, watch films, or listen to music — you may discover beautiful and unique ways to talk about the heart and its many meanings.

And if you’re looking for more ways to express emotions or explore idioms involving the heart in French, the WordReference entry for cœur is an excellent resource to start your exploration!

I hope this article helped you understand the different facets of 'heart' in French. To conclude, here’s a profound thought from Blaise Pascal: Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. (The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.)

9 ways to say "heart" in French