French word

peau

Pronunciation

IPA/po/

Meaning

  • feminine nounskin

Example

Il met de la crème sur sa peau.

He puts cream on his skin.

Illustration for peau (skin)

More examples

Sa peau est très sèche en hiver.

Her skin is very dry in winter.

Core concept

A soft outer covering that shields a living body and carries the sense of touch.

Common phrases

  • peau sèche

    dry skin

  • peau sensible

    sensitive skin

  • crème pour la peau

    skin cream

  • soin de la peau

    skin care

Similar words

cuir: Animal skin processed into material for clothes and other leather products.
chair: Soft muscle and fatty tissue enclosing the body's internal structures.
pelure: A thin outer layer that covers a fruit or vegetable.

Definition in French

Organe souple qui recouvre le corps des êtres vivants, protège contre les agressions extérieures et permet le sens du toucher.

Word origin

Peau comes through Old French from Latin pellis, meaning skin or hide, with historical sound and spelling changes.

Usage tips

  • Peau is feminine, so the usual form is la peau, as in la peau humaine.

Other meanings

  • peelnoun

Word lists with this word