French word

poitrine

Pronunciation

IPA/pwatʁin/

Meaning

  • feminine nounchest

Example

J'ai mal à la poitrine.

My chest hurts.

Illustration for poitrine (chest)

More examples

Ce chemisier met en valeur sa poitrine.

This blouse accentuates her chest.

Core concept

The broad front panel of the upper torso over the heart and lungs, also seen as a corresponding cut of meat.

Common phrases

  • avoir mal à la poitrine

    have chest pain

  • la poitrine de poulet

    chicken breast

  • avoir la poitrine serrée

    have a tight chest

Similar words

sein: A breast, especially a woman's breast involved in breastfeeding.
torse: The front of the body from the neck to the waist.

Definition in French

La partie antérieure du buste qui couvre les organes thoraciques; mot employé aussi pour désigner la viande issue de cette zone.

Word origin

French poitrine developed from Latin pectus through later Latin and Old French forms such as peitrine and poitrene.

Usage tips

  • Poitrine is feminine, so the usual phrase is à la poitrine, as in J'ai mal à la poitrine.

Other meanings

  • breast meatnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word