French word

paume

Pronunciation

IPA/pom/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpalm

Example

J'ai une coupure sur la paume.

I have a cut on my palm.

Illustration for paume (palm)

More examples

Il tient la clé dans la paume de sa main.

He is holding the key in the palm of his hand.

Core concept

The hand's open inner area, serving as a small surface for holding, feeling, or contact.

Common phrases

  • la paume de la main

    palm of the hand

  • taper avec la paume

    slap with the palm

Similar words

main: The arm's end, including the fingers, palm, and back of the hand.
doigt: A slender digit at the end of a hand or foot.
poignet: The narrow, flexible joint connecting the hand and forearm.

Definition in French

Partie intérieure de la main, entre le poignet et les doigts, utilisée pour tenir ou toucher des objets.

Word origin

The French noun paume developed from Latin palma through Old French, following the historical development of the same body-part term.

Usage tips

  • La paume de la main makes the reference explicit, while la paume alone is natural when the context already identifies the hand.

Opposites

  • dos de la mainback of the handnoun

Related words

  • paumerloseverb
  • paumélostadjective

Word lists with this word