Explanation at your level:
You have two legs. You use them to walk and run. If you want to go to the park, you use your legs. They are very important for your body!
A leg is the part of your body from your hip to your foot. Animals like dogs and cats also have legs. You can also say a table has four legs.
The word leg refers to the limb used for movement. People often talk about stretching their legs after sitting for a long time. It is a common word used in daily life and sports.
Beyond anatomy, leg is used metaphorically. For instance, a leg of a journey refers to one stage of a long trip. Understanding these nuances helps you sound more natural when speaking English.
In advanced English, leg can appear in complex idioms. You might hear someone say they are leg-up on the competition, meaning they have an advantage. Its usage spans from biological descriptions to strategic business planning.
Mastery of leg involves recognizing its historical shift from 'bone' to 'limb' and its wide application in idiomatic English. Literary usage often employs the word to denote movement, stability, or the physical toll of a journey, reflecting deep cultural associations with the human form.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- A leg is a body limb for walking.
- It also refers to furniture supports.
- Common idioms include 'pulling your leg'.
- It is a simple, essential noun.
When we talk about a leg, we are usually referring to the entire limb that connects to the hip and goes all the way down to the foot. In humans, we have two legs, which are essential for our ability to move around in the world.
Think of your legs as the pillars of your body. They carry your weight and help you perform everyday tasks like climbing stairs or dancing. While we mostly use the word to describe human anatomy, it is also used for animals, furniture, and even parts of a journey!
The word leg has a fascinating history that dates back to the Old Norse word leggr, which actually meant 'bone' or 'stalk.' It wasn't until the 13th century that it replaced the Old English word shank in common usage.
Interestingly, the shift from 'bone' to 'limb' shows how language evolves to be more descriptive of the entire structure rather than just the internal support. It shares roots with other Germanic languages, showing that our ancestors were very focused on the anatomy that allowed them to travel long distances.
You will hear leg used in many different ways. In a formal medical context, it refers strictly to the anatomy. However, in casual conversation, we often use it for inanimate objects, like the leg of a table or the leg of a chair.
Common collocations include broken leg, stretching one's legs, and long legs. It is a very versatile word that fits into almost any register, from a doctor's office to a casual chat about furniture design.
English is full of fun phrases using this word! For example, pull someone's leg means to tease or joke with them. If you are on your last legs, it means you are very tired or something is about to fail.
Another common one is leg it, which is British slang for running away quickly. Then there is cost an arm and a leg, which means something is extremely expensive. Finally, find your sea legs means getting used to a new situation or environment.
The word leg is a regular countable noun. Its plural form is simply legs. In terms of pronunciation, the IPA is /lɛɡ/ in both British and American English. It rhymes with words like peg, egg, beg, and keg.
When using it in a sentence, you usually need an article, such as 'I hurt my leg' or 'The table has four legs.' It is a very straightforward word grammatically, making it great for learners to practice early on.
Fun Fact
It replaced the older word 'shank' in the 13th century.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound followed by a hard 'g'.
Same as UK, clear and sharp.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'layg'
- Dropping the 'g' sound
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
one leg, two legs
Possessive Adjectives
my leg, his leg
Articles
a leg, the leg
Examples by Level
I walk with my legs.
walk = move by foot
simple present
My leg hurts.
hurts = has pain
possessive adjective
The dog has four legs.
four = 4
plural noun
I run on my legs.
run = move fast
prepositional phrase
She has long legs.
long = not short
adjective + noun
Sit on the chair legs.
chair = seat
compound noun
He broke his leg.
broke = injury
past tense
Move your legs now.
move = change position
imperative
The table leg is broken.
She hurt her leg playing soccer.
He has strong legs for running.
The cat stretched its legs.
We walked the first leg of the trip.
My legs are tired from walking.
The chair has a wobbly leg.
He stood on one leg.
The last leg of the race was the hardest.
I need to stretch my legs during the break.
The furniture has elegant wooden legs.
She pulled my leg about the surprise party.
The journey has three legs: train, bus, and boat.
He is finding his sea legs on the cruise.
His business is on its last legs.
The spider has eight legs.
The final leg of the tour takes us to Paris.
He gave me a leg up in my career.
She is always pulling my leg.
The project is in its final leg.
I was shaking in my legs with fear.
He broke a leg at the audition.
The table leg needs a repair.
She has a leg to stand on in this argument.
The company is on its last legs after the scandal.
He managed to get a leg up on the competition.
The investigation is in the final leg.
She has no leg to stand on regarding that claim.
The journey's second leg was delayed.
He is trying to find his sea legs in this new job.
The table's leg was carved with precision.
His argument doesn't have a leg to stand on.
The structural integrity of the table leg is compromised.
He was metaphorically on his last legs by the end of the marathon.
The legislative leg of the government met today.
She pulled his leg with such subtlety he believed her.
The journey's final leg was a grueling trek.
He sought a leg up through networking.
The dancer's leg movement was fluid.
The argument lacked a leg to stand on entirely.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"pull someone's leg"
to tease or joke
Don't be mad, I'm just pulling your leg!
casual"cost an arm and a leg"
very expensive
That car cost an arm and a leg.
casual"on one's last legs"
near death or failure
The old radio is on its last legs.
casual"leg it"
to run away
We had to leg it when it started raining.
slang"find one's sea legs"
get used to new surroundings
It took a week to find my sea legs.
neutral"not have a leg to stand on"
no evidence or support
Your argument doesn't have a leg to stand on.
neutralEasily Confused
both are part of the lower limb
foot is the bottom, leg is the whole
My foot hurts, so I can't stand on my leg.
both are limbs
arms are upper, legs are lower
I use my arms to carry and legs to walk.
older synonym
shank is very specific/archaic
Leg is common, shank is not.
broader term
limb includes arms and legs
A leg is a type of limb.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + hurt + possessive + leg
I hurt my leg.
Subject + have + number + legs
The dog has four legs.
Subject + stretch + legs
I need to stretch my legs.
Subject + pull + someone's + leg
He is pulling your leg.
Subject + be + on + last + legs
The car is on its last legs.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Leg is singular, legs is plural.
Foot is just the bottom part.
Legs are for walking, arms are for reaching.
Always specify the object.
Leg it is slang.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a table walking on its legs.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it for both body parts and furniture.
Cultural Insight
Remember 'break a leg' means good luck.
Grammar Shortcut
Leg is a regular noun.
Say It Right
Keep the 'g' sound sharp.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse leg with foot.
Did You Know?
Leg replaced the word shank.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your day.
Rhyme Time
Rhyme it with egg.
Idiom Check
Learn the common idioms first.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
L-E-G: Long, Energetic, Gait.
Visual Association
A table with four legs.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to describe a piece of furniture using the word leg.
Wortherkunft
Old Norse
Original meaning: bone
Kultureller Kontext
None
Commonly used in sports and furniture design.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at the doctor
- My leg hurts.
- I injured my leg.
- Is my leg broken?
at home
- The chair leg is broken.
- Move the table legs.
- Clean the table legs.
traveling
- The first leg of the trip.
- Stretch my legs.
- Long leg of the flight.
sports
- Use your legs.
- Strong leg muscles.
- Final leg of the race.
Conversation Starters
"Do you like to go for long walks on your legs?"
"Have you ever broken a leg?"
"What is the longest trip you have taken in legs of travel?"
"Do you believe in the 'break a leg' superstition?"
"How do you feel after a long day on your legs?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you used your legs to explore somewhere new.
Write about a piece of furniture you own and its legs.
Explain the meaning of 'cost an arm and a leg' with an example.
How does it feel to stretch your legs after a long flight?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, the foot is the part at the end of the leg.
Yes, it is a common way to describe furniture supports.
Just add an 's' to make it legs.
It is a way to say good luck in theater.
It is neutral and used everywhere.
Yes, many animals walk on legs.
It is rarely used as a verb, except in slang like 'leg it'.
No, arms are for reaching and legs are for walking.
Teste dich selbst
I have two ___.
Legs are for walking.
Which is a part of a table?
Tables have legs.
To 'pull someone's leg' means to hurt them.
It means to joke.
Word
Bedeutung
Matches idioms to meanings.
Subject-verb-object order.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
The word leg is a versatile noun used for both human anatomy and inanimate objects like furniture.
- A leg is a body limb for walking.
- It also refers to furniture supports.
- Common idioms include 'pulling your leg'.
- It is a simple, essential noun.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a table walking on its legs.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it for both body parts and furniture.
Cultural Insight
Remember 'break a leg' means good luck.
Grammar Shortcut
Leg is a regular noun.
Beispiel
I fell down and hurt my right leg during the soccer game.
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