French word

patte

Pronunciation

IPA/pat/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpaw

Example

Le chien lèche sa patte.

The dog licks its paw.

Illustration for patte (paw)

More examples

Le chat s'est blessé à la patte.

The cat injured its paw.

Core concept

A paw-like limb that supports an animal or lets it move and grasp.

Common phrases

  • la patte avant

    front leg

  • la patte arrière

    hind leg

  • donner la patte

    offer one's paw

Similar words

pied: The ground-contacting part of the foot used when standing or walking.
jambe: The long leg part between the hip and ankle that helps support the body.
main: The hand at the end of the arm, used for grasping objects.
griffe: A hard, pointed animal claw used to grip or scratch.

Definition in French

Membre d'un animal servant à marcher, sauter ou saisir, correspondant à la partie qui joue le rôle du pied chez l'humain.

Word origin

The French noun patte developed from Old French pate and is generally linked to a Germanic source; the exact source is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Patte is feminine, so the usual forms are une patte and la patte, including in the expression donner la patte for a trained animal's paw.

Other meanings

  • legnoun
  • forelegnoun

Word lists with this word