French word

picotement

Pronunciation

IPA/pikɔtəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nountingling

Example

J'ai un picotement à la jambe.

I have a tingling sensation in my leg.

Illustration for picotement (tingling)

More examples

Je ressens un picotement quand je reste assis trop longtemps.

I feel a tingling sensation when I sit for too long.

Core concept

A brief cluster of fine needle-like taps in one area of skin.

Common phrases

  • avoir un picotement à la jambe

    have a tingling sensation in the leg

  • sentir un picotement dans les doigts

    feel a tingling sensation in the fingers

  • sensation de picotement au bras

    tingling sensation in the arm

Similar words

fourmillement: A persistent fine tingling sensation in a hand or foot.
engourdissement: Reduced sensation in a hand or foot, making touch harder to feel.
démangeaison: An itchy skin sensation that creates an urge to scratch.
brûlure: A stinging pain in the skin that feels as if it is burning.

Definition in French

Sensation légère et localisée de petites piqûres sur la peau.

Word origin

Picoter is the source of picotement and belongs to the same word family as piquer, while -ment turns the verb into a noun.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, the sensation is often expressed with ça picote, whereas picotement is the corresponding noun.

Opposites

  • engourdissementnumbnessnoun

Related words

  • picotertingleverb
  • picotétinglingadjective

Word lists with this word