Le nez is the classic, go-to word for "nose" in French, and it's the one you'll learn in any beginner's textbook. But the French language, with its rich tapestry of slang, idioms, and playful expressions, offers so much more! Whether you want to sound more like a native, describe a specific type of nose, or just have some fun with your vocabulary, you've come to the right place. Let's dive in and explore 9 different ways to talk about the "nose" in French, from the formal to the funny!

1. The standard 'nose' – le nez

The most common and direct translation for 'nose' in French is le nez. It's a masculine noun, which is crucial to remember when using articles (le, un) and adjectives that agree with it.

The pronunciation of nez is key. The final 'z' is silent, which is a common pattern in French. It sounds like the English word 'nay'. The phonetic transcription is /ne/.

You use le nez whenever you're referring to the physical body part. It functions just like its English counterpart in everyday anatomical descriptions.

Beyond its literal meaning, le nez is central to many French idioms. A classic example is mettre son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un, which translates directly to the English expression 'to stick one's nose in someone's business'.

Another useful expression is avoir quelqu'un dans le nez, which means you can't stand someone. You might also hear mener quelqu'un par le bout du nez, meaning 'to lead someone by the nose' or to make them do whatever you want.

The plural form is les nez. The spelling does not change from singular to plural because the word already ends in '-z'. You would use this when referring to the noses of multiple people or objects, such as statues.

💡 * Il a un grand nez. (He has a big nose.)

Mon nez coule parce que je suis enrhumé. (My nose is running because I have a cold.)

Arrête de mettre ton nez partout ! (Stop sticking your nose everywhere!)

Les chiens ont un très bon nez. (Dogs have a very good sense of smell/a very good nose.)

The common slang 'nose' – le pif

While the standard French word for 'nose' is le nez, a very common and informal slang alternative you'll hear in everyday speech is le pif. It's a masculine noun, just like le nez.

Using le pif instantly makes your French sound more casual and colloquial. It carries a familiar, sometimes humorous or slightly coarse tone. It's perfect for conversations with friends but should be avoided in formal settings, where le nez is the appropriate choice.

One of the most important uses of this word is in the idiomatic expression au pif, which means 'by guesswork,' 'at random,' or 'off the top of my head.' This phrase is extremely common in spoken French.

Often, le pif is used to refer to a large or prominent nose, sometimes in a teasing but affectionate way. Think of it as the difference between saying 'nose' and 'schnoz' in English.

In short, use le nez as your default, and sprinkle in le pif when you're in a relaxed, informal situation to add a touch of authentic French slang to your vocabulary, especially with the expression au pif.

💡 * Il s'est pris une porte en plein pif. (He walked right into a door with his nose.)

Combien de personnes viennent ce soir ? - Je ne sais pas, je dirais vingt au pif. (How many people are coming tonight? - I don't know, I'd say twenty at a guess.)

Fais attention, ton pif est tout rouge à cause du froid ! (Be careful, your nose is all red from the cold!)

J'ai trouvé son adresse au pif, en cherchant dans le quartier. (I found his address by pure guesswork, just by searching in the neighborhood.)

The other popular slang 'nose' – le tarin

Another popular, albeit slightly old-fashioned, slang term for 'nose' in French is le tarin.

Le tarin is a very informal, slang word for le nez (the nose). It belongs to the argot (slang) register and is considered very familiar. Like the standard word, it is a masculine noun: un tarin.

While le pif is perhaps the most common slang term for nose today, le tarin is also widely understood. It carries a slightly more vintage or classic slang feel. Think of it as a colorful alternative you might hear from an older person or in a playful context.

You should only use le tarin in highly informal situations with friends or family who appreciate slang. It is often used humorously, especially when referring to a large or prominent nose. Avoid it completely in formal or professional settings.

You might encounter le tarin in familiar expressions like 'avoir un gros tarin' (to have a big nose) or 'se prendre un coup dans le tarin' (to get hit in the nose). Its usage directly parallels that of le nez but lowers the formality instantly.

💡 * Il est tombé et s'est cassé le tarin. (He fell and broke his nose.)

Arrête de te curer le tarin, c'est dégoûtant ! (Stop picking your nose, it's disgusting!)

Quel tarin il a ! On ne voit que ça. (What a honker he has! It's all you can see.)

Il a reçu un ballon en plein tarin pendant le match. (He got a ball right in the nose during the game.)

The informal 'schnoz' or 'beak' – le blair

Le blair is a very informal, slang term in French for 'nose,' much like calling it a 'schnoz,' 'beak,' or 'hooter' in English.

This word is purely colloquial and often used humorously or in a slightly pejorative way, typically to refer to a large or prominent nose. It's a term you would only use in very casual conversations with friends.

As a noun, blair is masculine, so it is always referred to as le blair or un blair.

From this noun comes the very common negative expression ne pas pouvoir blairer quelqu'un, which means 'to not be able to stand someone.' Literally, it translates to 'to not be able to smell someone,' implying a strong dislike.

💡 * Il a un de ces blairs ! (He's got some schnoz!)

Fais attention, tu vas te prendre un coup dans le blair. (Be careful, you're going to get hit in the nose.)

Franchement, je ne peux pas la blairer. (Honestly, I can't stand her.)

Il sentait l'ail à plein blair. (He reeked of garlic.)

The humorous term for a large 'nose' – le tarbouif

The humorous term for a large 'nose' – le tarbouif

Tarbouif is a very informal, slang term in French specifically used to describe a large nose. It’s a colloquial word, often used in a humorous or slightly mocking, but generally good-natured, way.

This word belongs firmly in the realm of argot (slang). You would use it with friends or in very casual conversations, but never in a formal setting. Its tone is playful and expressive, similar to calling a nose a 'schnoz' or 'beak' in English.

Tarbouif is a masculine noun, so you would always say le tarbouif or un tarbouif.

While often used humorously, be mindful of the context. Using it to describe a stranger's nose could be considered rude. It's safest to use it when joking with close friends, describing yourself, or referring to a fictional character.

💡 * Regarde le tarbouif de ce personnage de dessin animé ! (Look at the schnoz on that cartoon character!)

Avec ce rhume, j'ai le tarbouif tout rouge. (With this cold, my big nose is all red.)

Il s'est cogné le tarbouif contre la porte. (He bumped his nose against the door.)

1. The formal 'nasal appendage' – l'appendice nasal

While the everyday French word for 'nose' is simply le nez, you might occasionally encounter its highly formal, scientific, and somewhat comical counterpart: l'appendice nasal.

Breaking it down, appendice means 'appendage' and nasal is the adjective form of 'nose.' So, l'appendice nasal literally translates to 'the nasal appendage.' This is a purely descriptive, anatomical term.

This phrase is almost exclusively used in medical or scientific writing. You would find it in a doctor's report or an anatomy textbook, not in a casual conversation. Using it in everyday speech would sound incredibly pretentious or be interpreted as a joke.

The humor of l'appendice nasal lies in its excessive formality. It's a classic example of circumlocution (using more words than necessary). Describing a clown's red nose as a 'globular, crimson nasal appendage' is a way to use sophisticated language for comedic effect.

For French learners, the key is to recognize this phrase if you see it, but never to use it in place of le nez. Stick to le nez for all normal situations. Understanding l'appendice nasal is a fun piece of trivia that showcases the different registers of the French language.

💡 * Le rapport médical mentionne une légère déviation de l'appendice nasal. (The medical report mentions a slight deviation of the nasal appendage.)

L'auteur a décrit le personnage comme ayant un « appendice nasal particulièrement aquilin ». (The author described the character as having a “particularly aquiline nasal appendage.”)

Pour plaisanter, il a dit : « Excusez-moi, j'ai une poussière sur mon appendice nasal » au lieu de « sur mon nez ». (As a joke, he said: “Excuse me, I have some dust on my nasal appendage” instead of “on my nose.”)

The scientific 'olfactory organ' – l'organe olfactif

The term l'organe olfactif is the formal and scientific French phrase for the 'olfactory organ,' the part of the body responsible for the sense of smell. In most everyday situations, you would simply use the word le nez (the nose).

This phrase is composed of l'organe, a masculine noun meaning 'the organ,' and the adjective olfactif, meaning 'olfactory.' Because organe is masculine, the masculine form of the adjective is always used.

You will typically find l'organe olfactif used in academic, medical, or scientific writing. It is the precise anatomical term, not a word used in casual conversation about smelling flowers or cooking.

💡 * L'organe olfactif des chiens est extrêmement sensible. (The olfactory organ of dogs is extremely sensitive.)

Le virus peut affecter l'organe olfactif et causer une perte de l'odorat. (The virus can affect the olfactory organ and cause a loss of smell.)

Une étude scientifique a analysé le fonctionnement de l'organe olfactif. (A scientific study analyzed the functioning of the olfactory organ.)

The pejorative 'snout' – le museau

First, it's important to know that le museau literally means the snout or muzzle of an animal. For example, you would talk about le museau d'un chien (a dog's snout). In this context, the word is completely neutral.

In slang, le museau is used pejoratively to refer to a person's face or mouth. It's similar to calling someone's face a 'mug' or 'trap' in English. This usage is highly informal and insulting.

Using le museau for a person implies that they are animal-like or unpleasant. It's a term you might hear in an argument or as a harsh insult.

A classic rude expression is Tais-toi le museau! which is a very aggressive way to say 'Shut your trap!' It is much stronger than the standard Tais-toi.

💡 * Il s'est pris un coup en plein museau. (He took a punch right in the mug.)

Arrête de te plaindre et ferme ton museau ! (Stop complaining and shut your trap!)

Je n'aime pas son petit museau arrogant. (I don't like his arrogant little face.)

1. The Anatomical 'Nostril': Le Naseau

When you need to talk about a nostril in a specific, anatomical sense, particularly for animals, the French word you're looking for is le naseau. This is a masculine noun, and its plural form is les naseaux.

The most important rule for using le naseau is that it almost exclusively refers to the nostrils of animals. It's most commonly associated with large animals like horses, bulls, and cows. Using it to describe a human nostril would sound very strange, almost clinical or as if you were describing a person like an animal.

So, how do you say 'nostril' for a person? The correct word for a human nostril is la narine. Remembering this distinction is key: le naseau is for a horse's nose, while la narine is for your own nose.

💡 * Le cheval renifla, ses larges naseaux frémissant. (The horse sniffed, its wide nostrils twitching.)

De la fumée s'échappait des naseaux du dragon. (Smoke escaped from the dragon's nostrils.)

Le vétérinaire a délicatement nettoyé les naseaux du veau. (The veterinarian gently cleaned the calf's nostrils.)

Pour un humain, on dirait : J'ai la narine gauche bouchée. (For a human, you would say: My left nostril is blocked.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “nose” in French, from the standard le nez to the informal le pif. But the French language is rich with other terms, including regional slang, poetic words, and specific anatomical vocabulary.

A great way to discover more is by exploring French culture. Pay attention to expressions used in classic French films, comics (bandes dessinées), and literature. You'll find that the nose is a frequent subject of colorful language!

For a deeper dive into idioms, try searching an online French dictionary like Larousse or Le Robert for “expressions avec le mot nez.” You'll uncover dozens of phrases that will make your French sound more natural.

Remember the cultural significance of the nose in France, especially in the worlds of perfume (parfum) and wine (vin). In these fields, having un bon nez (“a good nose”) is the highest form of praise for one's sense of smell and discernment.

If you want to see these words used in real conversations by native speakers, websites like Forvo allow you to hear pronunciation, while a resource like Reverso Context will show you example sentences from a wide variety of sources.

I hope this guide has been helpful on your language journey. To leave you with a fun, common expression, if you ever make a random guess, you can say you did it au pif—which literally means “by nose”! It’s a perfect example of how playful and expressive French can be.

'9 ways to say "nose" in French'