French word

tempe

Pronunciation

IPA/tɑ̃p/

Meaning

  • feminine nountemple

Example

Je me suis cogné la tempe en tombant.

I hit my temple when I fell.

Illustration for tempe (temple)

More examples

Elle avait mal à la tempe à cause du stress.

She had a sore temple because of stress.

Core concept

The flat patch of head between the forehead and the ear, with one on each side.

Common phrases

  • se cogner la tempe

    bang one's temple

  • avoir mal à la tempe

    have a sore temple

Similar words

joue: The soft area of the face from beside the mouth to below the ear.
front: The flat front part of the face between the eyebrows and hairline.
oreille: The external organ on the side of the head used for hearing.
visage: The entire front part of the head containing the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Definition in French

Région latérale et relativement plate de la tête, située entre le front et l'oreille, souvent désignée au pluriel pour parler des deux côtés.

Word origin

French tempe comes through Old French from Latin tempus, meaning the temple of the head, and is distinct in modern French from temps, meaning time.

Usage tips

  • The singular is feminine, une tempe, but les tempes is common when referring to both sides or to temple pain.

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