French word

cœur

Pronunciation

IPA/kœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounheart

Example

Le cœur de l'athlète bat fort.

The athlete's heart beats strongly.

Illustration for cœur (heart)

More examples

Le patient ressent une douleur au cœur.

The patient feels pain in the heart.

Core concept

A living center whose physical beat extends metaphorically to a person's deepest feelings and courage.

Common phrases

  • infarctus du cœur

    heart attack

  • douleur au cœur

    pain in the heart

Similar words

organe: A body part or structure with a specific function.
muscle: Body tissue that contracts to produce force.
pouls: The regular beating felt in a blood vessel, such as at the wrist.
centre: The middle or most important part of something.

Definition in French

Siège symbolique des émotions, de l'affection et du courage ; au sens propre, organe musculaire qui fait circuler le sang.

Word origin

The noun descends from Latin cor, cordis and passed through Old French forms such as cuer before becoming modern French cœur.

Usage tips

  • In au cœur de, cœur means the central part of a place, subject, or situation and is followed by de.

Other meanings

  • centernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word