la patte
When talking about animals, la patte refers to a paw or a foot, especially for four-legged creatures. It's different from le pied which is used for human feet or the foot of furniture. For instance, you would say la patte du chat (the cat's paw) or la patte du chien (the dog's paw). You can also use it in some idiomatic expressions. For example, if something is à quatre pattes, it means it's on all fours, like a baby crawling.
Fun Fact
The word 'patte' can also be used in French to refer to a person's hand in a familiar or informal way, often implying a large or clumsy hand. For example, 'Donne la patte!' (Give me your paw!) can be said to a dog, but also humorously to a child.
Grammar to Know
Nouns in French have a gender (masculine or feminine). 'La patte' is feminine.
La patte du chat est douce. (The paw of the cat is soft.)
To make a noun plural, you generally add an 's' to the end. For 'la patte', it becomes 'les pattes'.
Les chiens ont quatre pattes. (Dogs have four paws.)
Possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses, notre, nos, votre, vos, leur, leurs) agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. If a cat is male, you would still say 'sa patte' because 'patte' is feminine.
Le chien a levé sa patte. (The dog lifted its paw.)
Prepositions often precede nouns to show relationships. For example, 'sur' (on) or 'sous' (under).
Le chat a une blessure sur la patte. (The cat has an injury on its paw.)
When describing the paw, adjectives will agree in gender and number with 'patte'.
La petite patte du chat. (The little paw of the cat.)
Idioms & Expressions
"donner la patte"
To shake a paw (said of a dog)
Mon chien sait donner la patte. (My dog knows how to shake a paw.)
neutral"se lécher les pattes"
To lick one's chops (e.g., after a good meal)
Après ce délicieux dîner, je me suis léché les pattes. (After that delicious dinner, I licked my chops.)
informal"avoir la patte leste"
To be light-fingered, quick with one's hands
Fais attention, ce pickpocket a la patte leste. (Be careful, that pickpocket is light-fingered.)
neutral"mettre la patte sur quelque chose"
To get one's hands on something, to lay hands on something
J'ai enfin mis la patte sur ce livre rare. (I finally got my hands on that rare book.)
neutral"graisser la patte à quelqu'un"
To bribe someone, to grease someone's palm
Il a dû graisser la patte pour obtenir le permis rapidement. (He had to grease someone's palm to get the permit quickly.)
informal"retomber sur ses pattes"
To land on one's feet (like a cat), to recover from a difficult situation
Malgré les difficultés, il a toujours su retomber sur ses pattes. (Despite the difficulties, he always knew how to land on his feet.)
neutral"ne pas y aller de main morte / ne pas y aller de patte morte"
To not hold back, to not go easy on someone/something
Le critique n'y est pas allé de patte morte avec le nouveau film. (The critic didn't hold back with the new film.)
informal"faire une patte de velours"
To be outwardly gentle or pleasant while having a hidden agenda or being cunning
Il fait une patte de velours, mais méfiez-vous de ses intentions. (He's putting on a velvet paw, but be wary of his intentions.)
neutral"la patte d'oie"
Crow's feet (wrinkles around the eyes)
Elle a de petites pattes d'oie au coin des yeux quand elle rit. (She has small crow's feet at the corner of her eyes when she laughs.)
neutral"montrer patte blanche"
To show one's credentials, to prove one's identity or right of entry
Pour entrer, il faut montrer patte blanche. (To enter, you have to show your credentials.)
neutralWord Origin
Vulgar Latin 'patta'
Original meaning: paw or foot of an animal
RomanceCultural Context
In French culture, animals are often personified, and using 'la patte' can sometimes subtly reinforce this connection. Beyond its literal meaning for an animal's paw, you'll encounter it in expressions like 'mettre la patte sur' (to get one's hands on something) or 'avoir la patte leste' (to be light-fingered or quick-handed), showing its versatility in idiomatic language.
Related Content
Related Phrases
More nature words
à ciel ouvert
B1Open-air, under the open sky.
à fleur d'eau
B1At water level; just above the surface of the water.
à l'abri de
B1Sheltered from; safe from.
à l'approche de
B1As (something) approaches; nearing.
à l'aube
B1At dawn; at the very beginning of the day.
à l'écart de
B1Away from; apart from.
à l'état sauvage
B1In the wild; in an untamed state.
à l'extérieur de
A2Outside of.
à l'intérieur de
A2Inside of; within.
à pas lents
B1At a slow pace.
