cou

neck

noun KOO Less Common

Usage Note

Cou refers specifically to the neck as the body part connecting head and torso. A related word, la nuque, means the nape of the neck (the back). The idiom prendre quelqu'un par le cou (to grab someone by the neck) is also used affectionately for hugging. It is distinct from le col, which refers to a collar or mountain pass.

Examples

"Elle portait un foulard autour du cou."

Natural Translation

She wore a scarf around her neck.

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