Usage Note
Épaule is standard for the shoulder joint and the cut of meat (épaule d'agneau — shoulder of lamb). The idiom hausser les épaules ('to shrug') is very frequent in everyday speech and writing. The related verb épauler means 'to support' or 'to help someone out', carrying the idea of lending a shoulder.
Examples
"Elle lui a posé la main sur l'épaule."
Natural Translation
She placed her hand on his shoulder.
Literal Translation
She to-him has placed the hand on the-shoulder
Related Words
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